Sixers Face Pacers and Nets on Back-to-Back; Embiid and James Availability in Question
Sixers Face Pacers and Nets on Back-to-Back; Embiid and James Availability in Question
The Philadelphia Sixers (10-3) face a critical two-game stretch this weekend, hosting the Indiana Pacers (4-8) on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET before traveling to play the Brooklyn Nets (3-8) on Monday at 7:30 p.m. ET. The primary narrative surrounding the series is the availability of stars Joel Embiid and LeBron James, who have both been managed carefully in previous back-to-back scenarios.
The Philadelphia Sixers (10-3) are set to play two of the Eastern Conference’s bottom-five teams on consecutive days, beginning with a home game against the Indiana Pacers (4-8) on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET and concluding with a road matchup against the Brooklyn Nets (3-8) on Monday at 7:30 p.m. ET. According to ESPN standings and the Sixers’ schedule, both opponents will have played additional games before Philadelphia faces them, meaning their records may shift by the time tip-off occurs.
The central question for head coach Nick Nurse is determining which players will be available for each night. Joel Embiid has sat out the second game of every back-to-back set this season, and LeBron James missed Thursday’s victory over Toronto (123-112) due to a sore back. The Sixers improved to 10-3 with that win, moving them to second place in the Eastern Conference, half a game behind the Boston Celtics.
In Thursday’s game, six Sixers players scored in double figures. Tyrese Maxey led the team with 27 points, according to the ESPN box score. The victory came two nights after a 123-101 home loss to the Celtics.
Indiana enters the series having won two of its last five games, including a 114-101 victory over Washington on Wednesday. Pascal Siakam scored 28 points in that win, while Ivica Zubac contributed 20 points and 12 rebounds. Siakam leads the Pacers with an average of 22.7 points per game, and Andrew Nembhard averages 7.8 assists, according to ESPN team leaders.
The Pacers are dealing with significant injuries. Point guard Tyrese Haliburton has missed eight consecutive games with a strained left hamstring. Head coach Rick Carlisle indicated that a status update on Haliburton could be available in approximately 10 days, according to the Associated Press. Additionally, ESPN’s injury report lists Johnny Furphy and Ben Sheppard as out with knee injuries, while T.J. McConnell (hamstring) and Aaron Nesmith (knee) are listed as day-to-day.
The Sixers won the first meeting of the season against Indiana 114-109 in Indianapolis on Oct. 28. Maxey scored 27 points in that game, including two three-pointers in the final minute and a half, while Embiid recorded 21 points and 11 rebounds. Indiana opened the third quarter with 17 straight points and held a 13-point lead after three quarters before Philadelphia rallied to win.
Brooklyn is also 2-3 in its last five games but arrives in Philadelphia coming off its best performance of the season: a 145-111 victory at New Orleans on Wednesday. Eight Nets players scored in double figures in that game. Egor Demin scored 22 points upon his return from a bone bruise, and Michael Porter Jr. also added 22 points. Porter leads the Nets with averages of 21.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, while Julius Randle leads in assists at 5.0 per game.
The Nets will have a day of rest before facing the Sixers, having closed a four-game road trip with a game against Memphis on Saturday. ESPN lists Nolan Traore (calf) and Mikel Brown Jr. (illness) as day-to-day for Brooklyn. This marks the first meeting between the two teams this season.
Philadelphia has played two back-to-back sets so far. During the Oct. 24-25 stretch, James sat the first night and Embiid sat the second. In the Oct. 30-31 set at Charlotte, both stars sat the second night. If Nurse follows this established pattern, Embiid is expected to play Sunday against Indiana and sit Monday in Brooklyn. The team has not officially announced its rotation plans for this upcoming set.
Embiid was listed as questionable on Thursday due to his right foot but played 28 minutes against Toronto, scoring 20 points after a first-quarter knee scare, according to PhillyVoice. James missed Thursday’s game to manage his lower back, marking his third absence of the season and the first not related to a back-to-back schedule. Nurse described the decision as "part of the long-term picture, and that’s where medical is at," according to PhillyVoice. ESPN lists James as day-to-day with a back issue.
The Sixers’ injury report for Sunday will provide the first indication of how Nurse plans to split minutes between his stars. Beyond Embiid and James, Adem Bona (back sprain) and Dominick Barlow (back fracture) are listed as out. Ariel Hukporti is out for the season following Achilles surgery.
Following the Monday game against Brooklyn, the Sixers will have Tuesday off before visiting Orlando on Wednesday, Nov. 18, at 7 p.m. ET. They will then host Milwaukee on Saturday, Nov. 21, at 1 p.m.
G.Ricci--MJ
