76ers vs. Pacers: Key Talking Points
Coming off their impressive victory Sunday, the Philadelphia 76ers will square off against the Indiana Pacers again on Tuesday night. This is the first leg of a back-to-back and the Sixers' second matchup in the group play round of the in-season tournament.
Things will look a little different for the Sixers, as multiple players are on the injury report. Joel Embiid is questionable, while Nico Batum and Kelly Oubre Jr. are both out.
As the Sixers gear up for this rematch against Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers, here are some key talking points for the matchup.
How will Tyrese Maxey respond following historic performance?
The biggest storyline from when these teams played over the weekend was the play of Tyrese Maxey. He continued his breakout season by erupting for a new career-high (50 points).
Heading into round two with the Pacers, how Maxey follows up this performance will be something to watch. If Embiid does end up getting scratched, the Sixers are going to need another strong outing from him if they want to keep their winning streak alive.
Who will step up to help fill the void?
With Oubre and Batum already out and Embiid being a game-time decision, the Sixers could have a big offensive void to fill. Maxey is only one player and can only do so much. If the Sixers are going to hang around with the league's best offense, they'll need a collective effort.
Aside from role players like De'Anthony Melton and Robert Covington, one key player the Sixers need to step up is Tobias Harris. So far this season, he's been back to playing at an All-Star level. Depending on what Embiid's status ends up being, it will be on the veteran forward to help lead the charge with Maxey on Tuesday.
In Sunday's win, Harris finished with 18 points, nine rebounds, and four assists.
Can the Sixers slow down the Pacers' second unit?
One of the reasons why the Pacers were able to storm a second-half comeback against the Sixers was because of the disparity of bench points. Indiana got 47 points from their bench, compared to just 13 for the Sixers.
Team defense is something Nick Nurse has highlighted a lot during this win streak, and it's something the Sixers need to emphasize in this matchup. Already down a few key players, they cannot afford to let the Pacers' second unit to get hot again.
