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D. Sabonis scored 21 points in 37 minutes. Although he scored 8 points from two points out of 12, the 5 Lithuanian triples flew over the country and 5 took the penalty goal.
The tall man from Lithuania bounced 8 balls, made 3 assists, lost 6 balls and committed 2 fouls.
When Sabonis was on the field, the 76ers scored 5 more points than the Pacers.
The Indianapolis team led by 16 points early in the fourth quarter, but then the 76ers began to use zone defense, which was a winning tactical decision.
With 8:16 minutes left, the Pacers led 104: 88.
“The most important thing was to stop his movement. Losing a few triples against the zone defense and it all gets a lot harder at the same time, ”said winning coach Doc Rivers.
One of the 76ers leaders, Joel Embiid, missed the game with a sore back.
Tobias Harris scored 27 points for the Philadelphia team, Furkan Korkmaz added 17 points.
When asked how much time the 76ers team spent this season preparing the zone defense, Harris said: “Probably five minutes. And I’m not kidding. It was during preparation for the next team. “
NBA reporter Sekou Smith, who died of COVID-19 infection on Wednesday, was honored with a minute of silence before the game. He was 48 years old. Smith reported on the Pacers in 2001-05 and then went to work for NBA TV and NBA.com.
On Tuesday, a Lithuanian duel awaits: Domantas Sabonis will host “Memphis Grizzlies” with Jonas Valančiūnas at home.
“Pacers”: M. Brgdonas 25, D. Sabonis 21 (0/5 trit., 8 atk. Kam.), A. Vacations 17, J. Lambas 12.
“76ers”: T. Harris 27, B. Simmons 21, F. Korkmazas 17, D. Howard 11 (Rev. 15).
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