Sixers Bell Ringer: Pacers race past Sixers as Embiid leaves after blow to the face

Sixers Bell Ringer regular season standings:
Jared McCain – 8
Paul George – 3
Tyrese Maxey – 3
KJ Martin – 2
Guerschon Yabusele – 2
Joel Embiid – 2
Justin Edwards – 1
Kelly Oubre, Jr. – 1

Well, the off days earlier this week were fun. The Philadelphia 76ers had been winning some games and the new Big 3 of Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey had started and finished a game together for the first time in Sunday’s win over Chicago. We allowed ourselves to hope again. That was our first mistake.

Prior to halftime, Joel Embiid was struck by an inadvertent forearm from Bennedict Mathurin to the right side of his face. He would not return to the game, and for a guy with a history of facial injuries, it’s not at all what you want to see.

Meanwhile, the teams continued playing basketball. Tyrese Haliburton rediscovered how to shoot, with help from Sixers defenders often leaving him open, and knocked down 7-of-15 threes on his way to a game-high 32 points. Philadelphia turned it over five more times than Indiana and missed went just 23-of-32 from the foul line. A late third quarter surge by a second-unit-heavy lineup got the Sixers back within six points, but a 12-0 Indiana run inside the final four minutes put the game away for the Pacers. Let’s look at Bell Ringer options from the 121-107 defeat.

Kelly Oubre Jr.: 12 points, 13 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 turnover

Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images

Despite not having the outside shot falling tonight, Oubre made an offensive impact both on and off the ball. He hit the glass hard (four offensive rebounds), earning a couple putback buckets. Kelly was also able to create his own shot off the dribble, sinking a couple mid-range jumpers and finishing a sweet, spinning finger roll at the end of the third quarter. Add in that he also led the team on the defensive glass and it was a solid night at the office for Oubre.

Ricky Council IV: 14 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 1 turnover

Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images

If you needed to choose one Sixer right now to try and draw a foul, you might be wise to select Ricky Council IV. The young forward has perfected the art of bearing down and forcing his way towards the basket, while looking so focused on the rim that when defenders enter his space the whistle almost surely follows. Council tallied nine free throw attempts on the game (only hitting six, unfortunately), and his prettiest play on the evening was one where he didn’t draw the foul, but instead finished with a gorgeous up-and-under finger roll off the glass. He also pummeled the Pacers on the boards and made a couple impact defensive plays. Council’s steal while fronting in the paint led toe a Tyrese Maxey three-point play in transition. His presence on the court just seems to raise the Sixers’ energy level as a team.

Andre Drummond: 7 points, 8 rebounds, 1 steal, 0 turnovers

Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images

At the beginning of the season, I’m not going to lie, Drum looked a little washed. After years of backup center woes, I thought the universe was playing a great prank of having the one we thought would fix the problem suddenly stink upon arrival. But Andre has played much better lately, including tonight against Indiana where he fought for a game-high five offensive rebounds. All three of his field goals came in the last three minutes and change of the third quarter as the Sixers beat the Pacers into submission to get back into the game. Good to know Drummond still has these stretches in him where he can own the painted area.