76ers Change Starting Lineup vs. Pacers on Tuesday

With another key absence, the 76ers had to make a change to the starting lineup on Tuesday against the Pacers.

Since the fourth game of the 2023-2024 NBA season, the Philadelphia 76ers have tweaked their starting lineup. With PJ Tucker initially starting at the power forward spot, the Sixers had to replace him after including the veteran in the James Harden blockbuster trade with the Los Angeles Clippers.

When Tucker parted ways with the Sixers, Nick Nurse didn’t hesitate to name Kelly Oubre as the replacement. With Oubre thriving in a role off the bench, Nurse felt he should be rewarded for the time being. 

Oubre started five games for the Sixers, but an injury that he suffered off the court put his season on hold. As Oubre recovers from a rib fracture, the Sixers needed to tweak the starting lineup for the third time this season.

On Sunday, the Sixers elevated Nic Batum to the starting lineup. As the former Clippers forward got off to a hot start on the Sixers, Nurse felt he would fit seamlessly with the starting five. After Batum’s starting debut with the 76ers, the veteran will take a night off. For the third time since landing with the Sixers, Batum is out due to personal reasons.

Once again, the Sixers had to shake up their starting lineup. Facing the Indiana Pacers for the second time this season on Tuesday, the Sixers will roll out a starting five of Tyrese Maxey, De’Anthony Melton, Tobias Harris, Joel Embiid, and Robert Covington. 

Since returning to Philadelphia by way of a trade from LA, Covington has quickly carved out a role off the bench for the Sixers. 

With six games under his belt back in a Sixers uniform, Covington averaged 12 minutes on the floor. During that time, he’s produced three points per game. While he’s been working on consistency with his shot, Covington’s defense has been highly valued through his first handful of games so far. On Tuesday, he’ll get a chance to start with the Sixers for the first time since the 2017-2018 season.