Sixers Bell Ringer: Pacers drive past Sixers as Embiid exits after a punch to the face

Sixes Bell Ringers regular season standings:
Jared McCain – 8
Paul George – 3
Tyrese Maxey – 3
KJ Martin – 2
Guerschon Yabusele – 2
Joel Embiid – 2
Justin Edwards – 1st
Kelly Oubre, Jr. – 1

Well, the days off earlier this week were fun. The Philadelphia 76ers had won some games, and the new Big 3 of Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey had started and finished a game together for the first time in Sunday’s win over Chicago. We allowed ourselves to hope again. That was our first mistake.

Before halftime, Joel Embiid was hit by an accidental forearm from Bennedict Mathurin to the right side of his face. He didn’t want to return to the game, and for a guy with a history of facial injuries, that’s not what you want to see at all.

Meanwhile, the teams continued to play basketball. Tyrese Haliburton rediscovered how to shoot with the help of Sixers defenders who often left him open, knocking down 7-of-15 threes en route to a game-high 32 points. Philadelphia turned it over five more times than Indiana and missed going just 23-of-32 from the foul line. A late third-quarter surge with a heavy second-unit lineup got the Sixers back within six points, but a 12-0 Indiana run in the final four minutes put the game away for the Pacers. Let’s look at Bell Ringer options from the 121-107 defeat.

Kelly Oubre Jr.: 12 points, 13 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 turnover

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Despite the outside shot not falling tonight, Oubre made an offensive impact both on and off the ball. He hit the glass hard (four offensive rebounds), and earned a pair of putback buckets. Kelly was also able to create his own shot off the dribble, sinking a pair of mid-range jumpers and finishing a sweet, spinning finger roll late in the third quarter. Add in the fact that he also led the team on the defensive glass, and it was a solid night at the office for Oubre.

Ricky Council IV: 14 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 1 turnover

Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images

If you had to pick a Sixer right now to try and make a mistake, you’d be wise to pick Ricky Council IV. The young forward has perfected the art of carrying down and forcing his way toward the basket while looking so focused at the rim that when defenders enter his space, the whistle is almost certain to follow. Council attempted nine free throws in the game (unfortunately hitting just six), and his most beautiful play of the night was one where he didn’t draw the foul, but instead finished with a beautiful up-and-under finger roll from the court. glass. He also beat the Pacers on the boards and made a few defensive plays. Council’s steals while ahead in the paint led to a Tyrese Maxey three-point play in transition. His presence on the court just seems to raise the Sixers’ energy level as a team.

Andre Drummond: 7 points, 8 rebounds, 1 steal, 0 turnovers

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At the start of the season, I’m not going to lie, Drum looked a little washed out. After years of problems with the backup center, I thought the universe was playing a big joke that the one we thought would fix the problem suddenly stinks upon arrival. But Andre has played much better of late, including tonight against Indiana, where he battled for five offensive rebounds. All three of his field goals came in the final three minutes and change of the third quarter as the Sixers beat the Pacers into submission to get back into the game. Good to know Drummond still has those stretches in him where he can own the painted area.