76ers at Pacers
The Philadelphia 76ers are planning to play All-Star center Joel Embiid in the second half of a back-to-back for the first time when they visit the Indiana Pacers on Saturday. The oft-injured Embiid has yet to appear in consecutive days in his career but expects to put that pattern to an end after helping the 76ers to a 103-97 win over Miami at home Friday night.
"I'm excited to have Joel on his first back-to-back," coach Brett Brown told reporters after Embiid put up 17 points and 11 rebounds in 31 minutes. The Pacers will be trying to extend a five-game home winning streak and also recover from a 133-126 loss at Charlotte on Friday. Victor Oladipo scored 35 points for Indiana, which gave up 49 first-quarter points en route to its worst defensive showing of the season. "I just didn't think we had any zip in our step," assistant coach Dan Burke - who is filling in while Nate McMillan is away from the team for personal reasons - told reporters. "We've got to take it to them next time."
TV: 7 p.m. ET, NBCS Philadelphia, FS Indiana
ABOUT THE 76ERS (25-24): Rookie Ben Simmons scored 20 points against Miami and has reached that plateau in four of his last five games while shooting 71.9 percent from the floor as he appears fueled by an All-Star Game snub. "I mean, if I was an All-Star, I'd be on the All-Star team," Simmons told reporters. "It's a little frustrating but if you look back at how many rookies have made it, it's not one of those things that makes or breaks your career." Justin Anderson hit all four of his shots - including two 3-pointers - to finish with 11 points off the bench and the 24-year-old guard has reached double figures four times in his last six games after doing so only once in his first 14.
ABOUT THE PACERS (29-24): Indiana can take a small degree of solace in the fact that it was able to forge a tie in the second half after such a dismal start, as Oladipo scored 13 points in the third quarter. "They hit every shot and I think we allowed them to get a rhythm," Burke said. "We did not do anything to break their rhythm. The only positive is that we kept scoring." Myles Turner finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds to record consecutive double-doubles for the first time this season, and the 21-year-old big man is 19-for-31 from the floor over his last three games.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Sixers PF Dario Saric has scored in double figures in 29 straight games.
2. SG JJ Redick scored a season-high 31 points to lead Philadelphia to a 121-110 win over Indiana at home in the first meeting earlier this season.
3. Pacers SG Lance Stephenson averages nine points per game but has reached double figures in five straight contests.