Pacers at 76ers
THE STORY: The Indiana Pacers will attempt to win their sixth straight game when they visit the struggling Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday. Indiana routed the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday and has the third-best record in the Eastern Conference. Philadelphia has lost six of eight games and is tied with the New York Knicks for the final two playoff spots. The 76ers close the campaign with five straight road games – including Saturday at Indiana – after Tuesday’s home finale.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Indiana, CS Philadelphia
ABOUT THE PACERS (39-22): Indiana is 9-1 in April after clobbering Minnesota by 23 points. The Pacers led by 25 points before the first quarter ended and were never threatened. Indiana is 4-0 on the road this month and Tuesday’s contest is their final away game of the season. Point guard Darren Collison (groin) returned from a four-game absence and played 19 minutes off the bench but was scoreless and largely ineffective. Pacers coach Frank Vogel said Collison won’t play against Philadelphia. “We’re going to give it a few more days to see if we can get him feeling 100 percent,” Vogel said.
ABOUT THE 76ERS (31-29): Philadelphia is running out of the time to regain its early season stride. After beginning the season 20-9, the 76ers are 11-20 and trying to avoid falling out of a playoff spot they seemed to be destined to land at midseason. Philadelphia lost to an Orlando Magic squad missing Dwight Howard on Monday and its only victories this month have come against the woeful New Jersey Nets and Toronto Raptors. The Milwaukee Bucks are two games behind Philadelphia and the two teams meet in Milwaukee on April 25.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. The teams split two previous meetings this season – Philadelphia notched a 96-86 home win on Jan. 9 and Indiana won 111-94 on its home court March 14.
2. 76ers forward Thaddeus Young (15 points) started for the first time this season in the loss to Orlando.
3. The Pacers have scored 100 or more points in 10 of the last 11 games.