Pacers vs 76ers Preview
The Indiana Pacers will try to surprise the Philadelphia 76ers and post a win at Wells Fargo Center. That won’t be easy because Philly lost the latest match at home, against the Cleveland Cavaliers, meaning that their sense of urgency will be very high. Indiana isn’t playing good at all, but still, they have no other options but to fight. Meanwhile, the 76ers are under pressure and need to win to keep the distance between them and the Brooklyn Nets, who are in very good shape at the moment.
Pacers vs 76ers Schedule
- Where: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- When: Monday, March 1, 7pm ET
- How to Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Pacers vs 76ers Odds
| Team | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Pacers | -5.5 (-110) | 223.5 (-110) |
| 76ers | +5.5(-110) | 223.5 (-110) |
Pacers in Terrible Rhythm
After a solid season-opening, Indiana lost its pace and is now slipping in the Eastern conference’s standings. Victor Oladipo’s trade ruined the entire conception of this team, and ever since he jumped to Houston, the Pacers can’t get a grip.
They lost three in a row, four over the past five, and are now below the .500, with 15 victories and 17 defeats. However, the team from Bankers Life FieldHouse is still in the playoff zone, occupying place No.7, and has a chance to keep it like that until the regular part of the season. All they need to do is to find a way to function without Oladipo.
Domantas Sabonis and Malcolm Brogdon are the key players here, with 21.4 points per game each. The Lithuanian center adds 11.4 boards and 5.9 assists per contest, while Brogdon has 6.4 assists and 4.8 rebounds.
Philly Needs Consistency
In the past four games, the 76ers are 2-2, and they need a bit more consistency in performances. Doc Rivers’ side had a nasty schedule playing a vast majority of its games on the road, but now at home, they need to pe perfect and utilize the fact of not traveling and having enough time to rest.
A loss to the Cavs following an OT, 112-109 needs to be a warning to the entire team. Joel Embiid had 42 points in that one, with 13 boards, yet he didn’t defend the rim well enough. Cavs had 62 points from the paint, compared to just 42 of the 76ers. What was also terrible was the free-throw percentage, 22-for-35.
Ben Simmons had 24 points with 8 assists and seven boards, but also made seven turnovers. Shake Milton added 11, and these three guys were the only ones with a double-digit number of points.
Pacers vs 76ers Head to Head
The 76ers won the first meeting of this campaign in Indianapolis, 119-110. Tobias Harris had 27 points, Simmons 21. Embiid didn’t play. Brogdon scored 25 for the hosts, Sabonis 21.
Pacers vs 76ers Pick and Prediction
The home team is much better than the struggling Pacers, who will need to find a way out of the crisis at some other place. There is no need for thinking here, Philly will win, and they will cover the spread which is currently at 5.5 points. Pacers are in a tough position, and the 76ers are going to utilize such circumstances.
Free pick:
Philadelphia -5.5
