The Sixers (9-61) open a four-game road trip when they head to face the Indiana Pacers (36-33) on Monday night (7 p.m./TCN).
Let’s take a closer look at the matchup:
1. Stumble at the start
While it’s easy to look at the Sixers’ latest loss and think it was just another case of missed opportunities in the fourth quarter, it was actually a horrendous start that prevented them from finishing things off in the end.
The Sixers missed 17 straight shots at one point in the first quarter and were just 5 for 26 (19.2 percent) total during the frame in a 120-105 loss to the Boston Celtics on Sunday. They ended the opening quarter down 28-16 and had to fight an uphill battle all game.
Sure, the Sixers trimmed the deficit all the way down to four in the fourth quarter, but they didn’t have quite enough energy to complete the comeback after digging such a big hole early.
“That’s hard to do,” head coach Brett Brown said of those 17 consecutive missed shots in the first quarter.
We would have to agree. But it’s not like the Sixers are strangers to slow starts. They average 23.6 points this season in the first quarter to rank 27th in the NBA.
NBA
The Sixers weren’t exactly on top of their game at the beginning of their last game against the Pacers. They managed just 18 points and were down five after one quarter in what was ultimately a 112-85 loss back on Nov. 18.
2. Carl on the case
One reason the Sixers were even able to make Sunday’s defeat close in the second half was the play of Carl Landry.
Landry came off the bench to have his best game yet as a Sixer. The veteran forward scored 26 points (10 of 18 shooting) to go along with eight rebounds in 25 minutes.
Despite the 15-point loss to the Celtics, Landry was just one of three Sixers to finish on the positive side of the plus/minus category (plus-2).
He teamed with fellow vet Elton Brand to help give the depleted Sixers some much-needed toughness and smart decision-making from the low block.
“There’s a professional pride to do your job,” Brown said. “You never know when somebody is going to need you and call your number, and that’s why people stay in the league as long as they do. There’s a professional approach to how they treat their job.”
3. This film is rated PG-13
There isn’t a person in the basketball world that will question Paul George’s approach to the game.
After snapping his right leg during Team USA's Blue-White scrimmage in 2014, George worked relentlessly to get back to being one of the NBA's elite players.
In his first full season since the injury, George has done just that. The do-it-all forward is averaging 23.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.9 steals.
George is showing no signs of slowing down either, as he exploded for 45 points, seven boards and four assists in a 115-111 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday.
George put up 34 points, eight rebounds, five assists and four steals in the Pacers’ lone meeting with the Sixers this season. With the Sixers still dealing with injuries on the wing, the All-Star could have a similar performance in store for Monday.
4. Injuries
Ty Lawson (foot) is a game-time decision for the Pacers.
Robert Covington (concussion) and Richaun Holmes (Achilles) are day to day.
5. This and that
• The Sixers have lost seven of their last eight against the Pacers.
• The Pacers are currently the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference with a half-game lead on No. 8 Chicago.
• The Sixers are 1-14 in the second game of back-to-back sets this season.
• The Sixers committed 31 turnovers in the season’s first meeting.