Out of the Sixers' first 41 games this season, which is the halfway mark, Embiid has only played 13 times. Also, he has not really suffered a long-term injury, only ongoing ones that continue to disrupt his and the 76ers' campaign.

Indiana held Philadelphia without a basket over the final 3:10 as it extended a six-point lead to 13. Forcing 17 turnovers certainly helped the 76ers. Getting outrebounded 50-32 against a team still improving on the glass did not. Pacers: Travel to Paris for two games against San Antonio, the first on Thursday.

One thing that Brett Brown, Doc Rivers, and Nick Nurse have in common is that they’ve had to navigate some tough times while coaching Joel Embiid and the Philad