WEATHER ALERT: Tonight's game against Philadelphia will start as scheduled at 6:00 p.m. ET in Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The staff at Pacers Sports & Entertainment will continue to watch weather-related news to ensure the roads remain safe and clear. Any updates to the game status will be posted to @Pacers on Twitter and Pacers.com.
Please drive safely and feel free to arrive early as doors to the seating area open at 5:00 p.m. We look forward to hosting you tonight.
Matchup
The Pacers (24-34) return to the court on Sunday evening, when they host the Philadelphia 76ers (13-45) in the second leg of a four-game homestand.
After Friday's win over the undermanned Cavaliers, the Pacers have a great opportunity to make a surge up the standings. Indiana is currently in a three-way tie for ninth place in the Eastern Conference — a half-game back of Brooklyn and a game back of Miami for the final two playoff spots — but has a favorable schedule coming up.
The Blue & Gold play seven of their next eight games at home and three of their next four contests come against Eastern Conference cellar dwellers Philadelphia and New York. The Pacers are well aware that they could entrench themselves into a playoff spot in the next couple weeks if they avoid a letdown against lesser competition.
"No disrespect to those teams, but those are definitely matchups we have an advantage going into," Pacers forward C.J. Miles said after Friday's win. "...We've just got to come out with a great intensity and a great focus and be able to play basketball our way."
Philadelphia had lost five straight games before knocking off Washington on Friday night at home (the Wizards are in fifth place in the East but mired in a six-game losing streak). 6-foot-11 center Nerlens Noel recorded a double-double (14 points and 13 rebounds) in that victory. The rookie has shown steady improvement over the course of the season — he just missed out on a triple-double against the Pacers last weekend, finishing with 12 points, nine rebounds, and nine blocks.
Sunday will mark the final meeting between the Pacers and Sixers this season. Indiana won at home on Oct. 29 and in Philadelphia on Feb. 20, while the 76ers came away with a last-second win in Philly on Jan. 10.
Projected Starters
George Hill
C.J. Miles
Solomon Hill
David West
Roy Hibbert
Isaiah Canaan
Jason Richardson
Robert Covington
Luc Mbah a Moute
Nerlens Noel
Pacers: PG - George Hill, SG - C.J. Miles, SF - Solomon Hill, PF - David West, C - Roy Hibbert
76ers: PG - Isaiah Canaan, SG - Jason Richardson, SF - Robert Covington, PF - Luc Mbah a Moute, C - Nerlens Noel
Injury Report
Pacers: Paul George - out (rehabilitation for broken right leg), Solomon Hill - questionable (illness)
76ers: Joel Embiid - out (right foot injury), Tony Wroten - out (right knee injury)
Last Meeting
February 20, 2015: The Pacers' bench scored 61 points as Indiana rolled to 106-95 win over the Sixers in Philadelphia. Rodney Stuckey led the way with 30 points on 10-of-16 shooting, while Luis Scola added 16 points and seven rebounds.
The Pacers forced Philadelphia into 18 turnovers on the night. Luc Mbah a Moute led the 76ers with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Jerami Grant also added 16 points off the bench.
Noteworthy
- The Pacers have won five straight regular season home games over Philadelphia. The Sixers’ last victory in Indianapolis came on April 21, 2012.
- Philadelphia leads the overall series with the Pacers 95-69, including a 44-38 record at Indiana.
- Over the course of the season, the Sixers' roster has featured 14 undrafted players. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, that is the single season record for the most undrafted players to be on a team’s roster over the course of a single season (the previous mark was 10: set by Atlanta in 2002-03 and matched by Golden State in 2009-10).
Broadcast Information TV & Radio Listings »
TV: FOX Sports Indiana - Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/host)
Radio: 107.5/1070 The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Slick Leonard (analyst), Pat Boylan (sideline reporter/host)
Tickets
Good seats still remain for Friday's game against Nerlens Noel and the Philadelphia 76ers. Reserve your seats now: Find Tickets »
Bankers Life Fieldhouse Improvements Underway
Starting the week of Feb. 2, concession stands located outside of Sections 5 and 14 on the Main Concourse and Sections 215 and 231 on the Balcony Level will be temporarily closed. Fans sitting in these sections are asked to please visit other nearby concession stands. More Info »
Home Court Gift Shop Game Night Special
Select Pacers Knit Hats - $12. Game Night Specials can be purchased in the Home Court Gift Shop or any of our souvenir stands located on all levels of Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Please shop online also at PacersGear.com.