Sixers Fall to Pacers 113-101
The Sixers came out in this one as they always do, fast. With a 11-2 outburst to begin the game, J.J. Redick was a key contributor early on going 3-3 from the field and 1-1 from three. The Pacers tightened up on defense and began to generate offense as they closed the gap. At the 5:07 mark Domantis Sabonis cut the lead to 3, but after that the Sixers started to create some distance. The Sixers went on an 8-2 run and lead at the end of Quarter 1 34-24. It blows my mind how the Sixers can be such a different team in the first quarter. They always come out with so much energy, but drop off in the second quarter.
Unfortunately, the Sixers second quarter struggled continued for the first 9 minutes of the second quarter. At one point in the second, the Sixers were 2-16 shooting. The Pacers took their first lead of the game at the 4:16 mark of the second frame. From their on out though it was the Joel Embiid show. When shots aren’t falling in basketball you need to get aggressive, and get to the line. Joel attempted 9 free throws in the quarter making 7 of them. In the Sixers previous game they attempted 16 in the entire game so to see Joel get to the line is huge. Joel sparked a major run for the Sixers as he finished the first half with 28 points and 14 rebounds on 9/15 shooting. He has been magnificent for the Sixers the entire season.
Most underrated pick of 2018 https://t.co/iFUSz2wwBG
— The Phifth Quarter (@ThePhifthQ) December 15, 2018
The third quarter began just like the second, but this time the Sixers failed to recover. For a great part of the 3rd the Sixers struggled mightily from the field. Mike Muscala and J.J. Redick both couldn’t find the bottom of the net until late in the period. The Pacers erased a 13 point lead by the Sixers and took a 3 point lead to end the third. Joel struggled going 2/5 from the field, but 0/2 from beyond the arc. As I stressed in my pregame piece, Joel needs to live under the basket and do what he does best. Joel is most dominate when he’s doing what he did in the third; dominating the paint and getting to the line.
Sixers with a poor 3rd Quarter shooting 7-22 as they trail by 3
Sixers need a big fourth quarter from Joel #HereTheyCome – 77#Pacers – 80
— The Phifth Quarter (@ThePhifthQ) December 15, 2018
In the fourth quarter the Sixers fought very hard. Without Jimmy Butler and essentially playing a man down having Wilson Chandler start, they gave everything they had. Joel At one point, J.J. Redick knocked down 2 threes on consecutive possessions to rejuvenate The Wells Fargo Center crowd. Ben Simmons followed that up with a three point play of his own, to erase an 88-85 Pacers lead. Up until 5 minutes left in the fourth, hope seemed to remain for the Sixers. That hope would be turned to dust by former Sixers Thad Young. He was all over the court in the fourth quarter. He finished with a season and team high of 26. This loss was the Pacers 6th straight and the first time all season the Sixers have lost back to back games at home.
