Sixers vs. Pacers Preview: Philadelphia looks to rebound in Indianapolis tonight

The Sixers (3-1) visit the Indiana Pacers (2-2) tonight at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Tip is at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN and NBC Sports Philadelphia. Philadelphia is looking to rebound from its first loss of the season, a Sunday defeat to Detroit on the second night of a back-to-back.

The Sixers won their first three games and then lost to the Pistons without Joel Embiid and VJ Edgecombe. Both are off the injury report tonight. Embiid sat out for right plantar fasciitis management. Edgecombe missed the game with an abdominal contusion.

Sixers Injury Report and Probable Starters

The Sixers have an injury report for tomorrow's game @ Indiana:

Tacko Fall – quad – OUT

Jabari Walker – knee – OUT

Dominick Barlow – back – OUT

VJ Edgecombe and Joel Embiid are not listed after missing Sunday's game.

— Adam Aaronson (@SixersAdam) October 27, 2026

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Philadelphia is still without Dominick Barlow (lower back stress reaction), Ariel Hukporti (right Achilles tear), Jabari Walker (left knee soreness) and Tacko Fall (left quadriceps strain). Walker will miss his second straight game.

The probable Sixers starting five is Tyrese Maxey, Edgecombe, Jaylen Brown, LeBron James and Embiid.

Maxey leads the team at 28.8 points per game. Embiid is averaging 21.7 points and 9.7 rebounds, Brown 20.8 points and 5.8 rebounds, and James 16.3 points and 7 rebounds in his 24th season. All four are averaging between 4.8 and 5.7 assists.

Pacers Injury Report: Haliburton Questionable

Injury Report for tomorrow's game against the 76ers:

Aaron Nesmith – Probable (left hamstring strain)
Obi Toppin – Probable (left hand sprain)
Tyrese Haliburton – Questionable (left hamstring tightness)
Andrew Nembhard – Questionable (neck soreness)
Ben Sheppard – Out (left… pic.twitter.com/Kdok5dcrkG

— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) October 27, 2026

Tyrese Haliburton is questionable with left hamstring tightness, one day after playing 35 minutes on the second night of a back-to-back. In four games since returning from the Achilles injury that cost him all of last season, he is averaging 21.8 points and 9.5 assists while shooting 51.6 percent. Pascal Siakam leads Indiana at 23.5 points per game.

Ivica Zubac is out with a left ankle sprain, so Jay Huff is expected to start at center. Andrew Nembhard is also questionable with neck soreness. T.J. McConnell, Ben Sheppard and Johnny Furphy are out.

If Nembhard sits, former Sixer Kelly Oubre Jr. could start. Oubre spent three seasons in Philadelphia before signing a two-year, $17 million deal with Indiana.

What Decides Sixers vs. Pacers

Pace decides this game. Haliburton pushes the ball early and runs offense before defenses get set. The Sixers have to keep missed shots and turnovers from becoming open Indiana threes. If Haliburton is stuck against a set defense, the Pacers get much easier to guard.

Rebounding is the other question. The Sixers have been vulnerable on the glass, but Indiana was outrebounded 61-48 by Milwaukee on Monday with Zubac out. Without him, the Pacers have less rim protection, which should open lanes for Maxey, Edgecombe and Brown.

Philadelphia is favored by 2.5 points, with the total between 238.5 and 239.5 depending on the sportsbook. The Sixers swept last season’s series 4-0, including a 103-91 win in Indianapolis on April 10 behind 32 points from Maxey. Haliburton did not play in any of those games, so that record means very little tonight.

Next up for the Sixers is the Knicks on Oct. 30 in an NBA Cup game.