Sixers shorthanded (again), lose (again) to Indiana Pacers

For the first time since early December, the Sixers are 10 games below .500.

The Pacers knocked off Philadelphia 115-102 Saturday night as they once again found themselves very shorthanded. They are 15-25 after losing their fifth straight game.

Not only did Joel Embiid remain out, but Paul George and Guerschon Yabusele were out with groin tightness and knee swelling, respectively. Yabu had been the only Sixer to play in every game to this point.

Tyrese Maxey led all scorers with 28 points, shooting 10-of-23 from the field. Ricky Council IV had a season-high 18 points — he shot 6-of-18 from the floor. Kelly Oubre Jr. also went for 18, and Adem Bona had a career-high 12 points on a perfect 5-of-5 shooting.

Here are some thoughts at the buzzer.

First Quarter

• A solid start defensively as the Pacers opened the game 1-of-5 from the field and turned the ball over three times. Eric Gordon and Oubre each got on the board from three early while Council gave himself an early fast break.
• After the quick run, the Sixers’ offense slowed down drastically. It mostly fell to Oubre to get a basket off the dribble, but none of his floaters went down. They also started the game 2-of-5 from the free throw line.
• They ended the quarter better as they got a burst of energy from Adem Bona. Maxey also got more involved. A Justin Edwards floater was just too late to beat the buzzer, leaving it a five-point Indiana lead after one.

Second Quarter

• Yes, it’s Andre Drummond’s first game back in a couple weeks, but can he at least secure a rebound over T.J. McConnell? Edwards also fell victim to a McConnell backcourt steal on the ensuing inbounds pass.
• The minutes with Maxey on the bench were not a complete disaster as Oubre got some shots to fall. Edwards also looked impressive as he looked to drive to the basket more. He doesn’t finish this one, but the hesitation crossover is a really nice move, and he had a teammate to clean it up.

• Per Cleaning the Glass, the Pacers shot 73% at the rim — that was thanks in large part to them grabbing an offensive rebound on 43% of their possessions. So Nick Nurse opted for a lineup with both Bona and Drummond. It was short lived though as Drummond might have tweaked something and checked back out of the game.
• Bona though, did very well in the extended minutes. He had four offensive rebounds of his own, making all five of his shots in the half. That included another two more highlight worthy dunks. A strong contest from him led to a missed layup and fast break from Maxey that brought the Sixers within two at the break.

Third Quarter

• Drummond was back out there to start the second half as the Sixers opened it with a 9-2 run, one that he capped off with a dunk in transition. Though the hit, fall and subsequent no-call after the dunk did abruptly put a halt in the Sixers’ momentum.
• After Council’s second three of the quarter, they were held scoreless for nearly four minutes of action. It was the first game since November that he made more than one in a game. Bona seemed shaken up when Turner accidentally fell on his knee. He remained in the game but was favoring that leg.

• Indiana continued to clean up on the glass as they grabbed five more offensive rebounds in the third. So many of them just felt like bad positioning from the Sixers. The Pacers led by nine at quarter’s end.

Fourth Quarter

• The game begun to get out of hand as the Pacers took their largest lead of the night early in the quarter. Drummond continued to struggle — not stopping much on defense while Pascal Siakam ripped the ball out of his hands on the other end. Edwards’ night was also done as he picked up his fifth and sixth fouls minutes into the frame. He fouled out in a little under 22 minutes.
• Notably, it was Pete Nance who relieved Drummond. Bona did not return to the game until it was essentially over. Nance did get a three to bounce in which started a Sixers run. Maxey, who as once again struggling from deep, finally got his second to fall during this stretch.

• The Sixers were able to string together some stops, they kept it a six-point game for a minute or so, but couldn’t get any buckets themselves. Soon after Siakam got to the line, then Ben Sheppard buried a three on the next possession to put the game away for good.
• It’s a good thing there’s nothing else on tomorrow, because the Sixers will be right back in action. They’ll take on the Bucks in Milwaukee at 7 p.m. ET.