Shorthanded Sixers Fall to Pacers, Snap Win Streak

After picking up a win at home against the Pistons on Saturday, the Sixers hit the road for a short two-game trip. First up was a matchup against the Indiana Pacers.

There was a lot at stake on Tuesday for the Sixers. A win would extend their winning streak to nine games and secure them the top spot in the Eastern Conference tonight.

Sadly, the Sixers were not able to get it done. After a rough showing in the second half, the Pacers took control of the game. They eventually went on to win by a final score of 103-94, snapping the Sixers' winning streak at eight games.

The Sixers were without multiple rotations players on Tuesday. Joel Embiid, Furkan Korkmaz, Matisse Thybulle, and Shake Milton all missed Tuesday's matchup for various reasons. Trying to fill the void these players left was something the Sixers struggled with.

Ben Simmons and Tobias Harris did all they could to lift the Sixers past the Pacers, but it just wasn't enough. Simmons was aggressive from the opening tip, looking to kickstart the offense. He went on to finish with 20 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, and two steals.

Harris has been in a bit of a cold spell as of late but was big for the Sixers in a game where they desperately needed offense. He scored a team-high 27 points to go along with five rebounds and three assists.

Tyrese Maxey continues to see regular minutes with players being in and out of the lineup. Coming off the bench against the Pacers, he did his best to be an offensive spark plug. In 16 minutes of action, Maxey racked up 11 points, two rebounds, three assists, one steal, and two blocks.

The second half is what tells the story of this game. After having full control and a good lead at halftime, the Sixers let this one slip right through their fingers.

Their offense came to almost a complete standstill in the final two 24 minutes, failing to break 20 points in both the third and fourth quarters. The Pacers outscored the Sixers 52-32 in the second half.

After the game, Tobias Harris was blunt about the sting of this loss. "This is a terrible loss for us as a group. We lost our composure," he said postgame.

Doc Rivers also chimed in about their efforts. Saying he felt it was an "offensive loss" and lack of execution led to their downfall.

Looking ahead, the Sixers will look to bounce back on Thursday. They will have another chance to lock up the one seed on national television against Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat.