Sixers fall to Indiana Pacers 103-91 in regular season opener

On Wednesday night, the Philadelphia 76ers took on the Indiana Pacers to open up the 2014-15 regular season. For the Sixers, this was the first NBA regular season game for many players on the roster including Nerlens Noel. The Sixers would start off the game hot leading through most of the first quarter with aggressive defense and getting easy buckets. Those easy buckets would not be easy down the stretch as the Indiana Pacers would pull away with the 103-91 victory.

The Sixers began the game fast by causing turnovers and getting out on the fast break. Tony Wroten, the Sixers starting point guard led the way in the first quarter. He had eight points, two assists, and three steals. As a team, the Sixers forced the Pacers into eight turnovers.

For the Sixers to be competitive in a lot of games this season it will have to start on the defensive end and pushing the ball on the fast break. The Pacers would then go on a run to end the first quarter with a 26-24 lead.

In the second quarter, the Sixers were still hanging with the depleted Pacers who did not have the likes of George Hill, David West, and C.J. Watson. Brandon Davies scored six points in the quarter while Wroten was still playing great and quick basketball. For the Pacers, Roy Hibbert was just heating up as he would score six points but the Sixers held a 51-48 lead at the half.

In the third quarter, the Sixers’ play started to get sloppy as they would shoot an abysmal 33 percent from the field. The Pacers would capitalize on the Sixers bad shooting as Donald Sloan and C.J. Miles would hit a couple of three point shots to increase Indiana’s lead. But the Sixers would still not go away as Alexey Shved would hit a few three pointers towards the end of the quarter to keep them close 78-73.

As the fourth quarter was upon us, Wroten and Shved were trying to keep the Sixers in the game. The duo would combine for 11 points, eight rebounds, and five assists. It would not be enough as the rest of the team went cold. Davies would shoot a three pointer which was an air ball and you just knew the game was over at that point.

The Pacers would pull away in the final frame thanks to the play of Rodney Stuckey and Sloan.

Some of the bright spots from last night’s game had to be Tony Wroten and Alexey Shved. Wroten, who is the de facto starting point guard until Michael Carter-Williams is ready to play, had a good game. Wroten finished the game with 22 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and three steals. Despite him shooting 9-of-21 from the field, he was definitely the kick starter for the Sixers’ offense.

Shved just like Wroten had a good game. Off the bench, he had 18 points, three rebounds and five assists. He also shot 5-of-11 from the field and 3-of-6 from three point range. Both players had a solid game for it being the season opener and let’s not forget Nerlens Noel. Noel did not have a good shooting day but had 10 rebounds and three block shots.

The offense will come for Noel but it’s good to see him making his presence felt in the paint. The Sixers now travel to Milwaukee as they will take on the Bucks on Halloween night.