Both are in a bad stretch, but with the Pacers being a great home team and Sixers being terrible on the road, Indy will be filled with confidence.

Naptown is sleepy

The Indiana Pacers are looking to get out of their funk. They are 21-12 (14-3 at home) on the season but have lost three of their last four games, which includes getting blown out by the lottery-bound New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday, 120-98.

The Pacers lost a hard-fought, 119-116 battle against the Philadelphia 76ers last December 1st. They were on the second night of a back-to-back and still gave a valiant effort, led mostly by TJ Warren and Malcolm Brogdon combining for 57 points on 58.8%-shooting. Look for Warren to have another productive night, particulalry if Brogdon (groin), who missed the Pelicans game, is out again.

Emerging big man Domantas Sabonis (17.4 PPG, 13.4 RPG, 3.9 APG) should also deliver a good showing, as well as recently plugged-in starter, Aaron Holiday. The second-year guard entered the starting line-up five games back and has logged 20.3 points and 7.0 assists per game in his last three.

PhiLLLLLy

The Sixers’ healthy 23-12 record and Christmas day win over the Milwaukee Bucks were great, but those extra Ls are for the Ls they are suddenly taking. Following the 117-116, overtime loss to the Miami Heat on Sunday, they have now dropped five of their last eight, and considering the awful 7-10 road record on the season, tomorrow’s not really looking good.

One good sign, however, is that win over the Pacers in early December. Philly was also on the second night of a back-to-back and survived the scare through its towering All-Star center Joel Embiid, who notched game-highs 32 points and 15 rebounds, and went a perfect 15-for-15 from the charity stripe. Embiid is averaging 27.6 points, 12.7 boards, and 1.6 blocks across his last nine outings.

Tobias Harris (19.7 PPG), the team’s secondary scorer, will continue helping out Embiid in the scoring road. He scored 22 against the Pacers and went 8-for-16 on his shots. Ben Simmons double-doubled in that game (15 pts, 13 asst) despite only shooting 4-for-13.

PREDICTION:

The Sixers’ road woes continue as Indy gets the win, 110-104.