Philadelphia-76ers vs Indiana Pacers Picks and Predictions March 14th 2025

Pacers Look to Build on Dramatic Win, Take on Skidding 76ers

Fresh off one of their most exhilarating wins of the season, the Indiana Pacers hope to carry that momentum into Friday’s road matchup against the struggling Philadelphia 76ers.

Indiana snapped a three-game losing streak in dramatic fashion on Tuesday night, overcoming a late deficit against the Milwaukee Bucks. Down three points in the final moments, Tyrese Haliburton drilled an off-balance three-pointer while drawing a foul with 3.4 seconds left. He calmly sank the free throw to complete the four-point play and seal a thrilling 115-114 victory.

“It’s the stuff you dream of,” Haliburton said. “I’m thankful my teammates trusted me.”

The victory pulled Indiana (36-28) into a tie with Milwaukee for fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings, a crucial position with 18 games remaining in the race for home-court advantage in the first round.

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Indiana’s Standout Performers

Haliburton, who finished with 14 points and 10 assists, recorded his seventh straight double-double in the win. While his clutch shot stole the headlines, Pascal Siakam quietly delivered another dominant performance, scoring 25 points, grabbing 12 rebounds, and dishing out five assists.

“An amazing sequence of events,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. “What a play, and (Pacers legend Reggie Miller) was in the building. They’ll be talking about Tyrese’s shot for a lot of years.”

Siakam has been a key force for Indiana, shooting at least 50% from the field in six of his last eight games. He also led the Pacers with 21 points in their last meeting against the Sixers—a 115-102 win on Jan. 18.

76ers Struggling Without Key Stars

Philadelphia is in free fall, having lost 14 of its last 16 games. The Sixers were already missing MVP Joel Embiid (knee) and Paul George (groin), and Friday’s game will see them without Tyrese Maxey (finger, back) as well.

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Without their star trio, the Sixers suffered a 118-105 loss to the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night. Despite the defeat, Quentin Grimes provided a bright spot with 29 points, continuing to impress since being acquired from Dallas. Jeff Dowtin Jr. (20 points) and Adem Bona (13 points, nine rebounds) also contributed, but Philadelphia’s depleted roster has struggled to keep up with opponents.

“I’m a competitive guy … I’d like our team to play a little bit better,” Sixers coach Nick Nurse said. “The losing’s hard. Trying to keep it all together is the main thing.”

With injuries piling up and confidence waning, Philadelphia will need unexpected contributions to keep pace with Indiana’s potent offense.

Key Matchup: Haliburton vs. Sixers’ Defense

Haliburton’s ability to dictate Indiana’s offense will be crucial against a Philadelphia team missing its top defenders. Without Embiid patrolling the paint, expect Siakam and Myles Turner to capitalize inside while Haliburton orchestrates from the perimeter.

If the Sixers can’t contain Haliburton and Siakam, Indiana may be in line for another key victory in their push for playoff positioning.

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