On the eve of the end of the regular season, the Sixers secured the essentials against the Pacers: victory (133-120), first-round home advantage and their 50th success of 2021/22.
It wasn’t always reassuring, especially on defense, but Joel Embiid’s teammates (41 points, 20 rebounds) did the job and they will now have to wait an extra day to find out their opponent’s name within a week. , during a series of at least four games.
As for Rick Carlisle’s players, their free-running end of the campaign continues and it’s time for the holidays to begin for good with this rebuilding process that started on the last “trade deadline”.
WHAT TO REMEMBER
† Philadelphia confirms its place in the Top 4 of the East† If the Sixers don’t know the identity of their opponent yet, they can be sure of one thing: they have home advantage in the first round. It remains to be seen whether they will come in 3rd or 4th in their conference and whether they will go up against the Raptors or the Bulls. The icing on the cake: With this success, their 50th of the season, the Philadelphia players reach this total for the first time since 2019 and the fourth time since the turn of the 21st century.
† Joel Embiid in voracious mode† For the first time since Embiid in August 2020 (already against the Pacers), a player managed a game with 40+ points and 20+ rebounds in the NBA. Above all, the Cameroonian’s new XXL performance is guaranteed to finish at 30+ points averaged over the season, in other words unheard of for a pivot since Moses Malone in 1981/82. On track to finish as the league’s top scorer in 2021/22, the franchise player of the Sixers made a real massacre against Indiana’s inexperienced racket, simply unable to slow it down (14/17 on shots…), except by making a mistake.
TOPS/FLOPS
Philadelphia Holders† Behind Joel Embiid, the other four members of the Sixers’ starting lineup also took care of today. Between Tobias Harris’ canon early match, the perfect complement to Embiid; the rediscovered aggressiveness of a James Harden in conductor mode (still present despite his clumsiness); the valuable contribution of Danny Green on every side of the floor (while Matisse Thybulle couldn’t play in the case of a Toronto series) or the offensive solidity of a discreet but effective Tyrese Maxey, Doc Rivers could count on particularly prolific retainers.
Indiana’s Young Guard† If they couldn’t make the weight defensively against a team like the Sixers, at least the Pacers were on the offensive. Starting with Oshae Brissett and Tyrese Haliburton, leaders of Rick Carlisle’s collective and well supported by Isaiah Jackson or Duane Washington Jr. So, without asking too many questions, the Indianapolis youth fought to the best of their ability to keep the stakes low. Bulletin board. Though in general she never really seemed to bother Philadelphia.
defenses† In these advanced schedule meetings, it’s generally all or nothing on the offensive. In this instance, between the Sixers’ various easing when they were well under control and the Pacers’ usual disinterest in defense tonight, the attackers had no problem shining. It was a bit ugly to watch at times, as the protagonists showed no interest in this aspect of the game. But at least scoring enthusiasts could enjoy many high percentage baskets (56% for Philadelphia, 53% for Indiana). As well as a mountain of free throws.
THE FOLLOWING
Philadelphia (50-31) : “back-to-back” against Detroit, on the night from Sunday to Monday, at the end of the regular season (1:00 AM).
Indiana (25-56) : “back-to-back” in Brooklyn, this Sunday night, at the end of the regular season (9:30 p.m.).
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