3. Indiana Pacers (August 1)
The Pacers are fifth in the East. The Sixers are sixth. Both teams are 39-26, and the tiebreaker currently belongs to Indiana. No game has a more immediate impact on the Sixers’ seeding. It’s fitting that this is their first game back.
Philadelphia is expected to bring Ben Simmons along slowly in Orlando, which is a damper when it comes to this game specifically. He probably won’t play more than 20-25 minutes . Even so, the Sixers have a few key matchup advantages and have handled Indiana well in the past. This is a winnable game.
For what feels like the first time all season, the Sixers won’t have anyone not available when the season re-starts. Simmons isn’t 100 percent yet, but he’ll be on the court. The other four starters are healthy, and all the reserves are too. The Sixers are closer to full health than they’ve been in a while.
If the Sixers win this game, they start the “seeding games” by jumping up to fifth in the East. While many would prefer the sixth seed for various reasons, it’s tough to argue with winning games. The Sixers shouldn’t purposefully lose, and this game could have a significant impact on how the Sixers’ postseason path shakes out. It’s a must-watch.