INDIANAPOLIS – When the Pacers are winning the big boyz seem to show up every now and then to broadcast the games. Well…on Thursday night the TNT Crew rolled into town with the hometown hero, Reggie Miller, calling the game. When the fog cleared and boyz turned on the lights the 76ers had sprinted through Big Momma’s living room knocking over her coffee table and ruining the carpet 120-96.
We actually thought that the Pacers were going to get loose on these cats when they got out of the gate running going on a 7-0 run before the 76ers could get their shoes on. Philly finally got on the board scoring 8 quick points to let a boy know that they were in the building as they went up 8-7. At that point we had a ball game. The NBA is a game of runs and boy were they running early.
At the end of the opening quarter Philly was up 28-25. Myles Turner had 6 of his total 12 rebounds in the first 8 minutes of the game. The way he started out boyz thought he was going to wreck shop.
Tyreke Evans came off of the bench and went right to work scoring a quick 9 points to let boyz know that he was at work tonight. It was a battle royale the entire first half for the Pacers as they struggled to shoot the ball in all three categories. They shot 38 percent from the field, 33 from behind the arc and only 63 percent from the foul line in the first half.
Victor Oladipo didn’t score his first 2 points until the 2:46 mark of the second quarter as he scored 6 of his 15 points in the first half. Thaddeus Young dropped off 12 of his team high 27 points in the first half as well.
The 76ers Jimmy Butler wasn’t playing with these boyz as he dropped 13 of his 27 points in the first half. Philly went into the break up 54-48.
The Sixers came out of the break and extended their lead to 66-55 by the time we got to the 8:04 mark of the third. However, the Pacers start shooting that thang with Thaddeus Young leading the way as they got to within 5 trailing 73-67 with 4:51 in the third.
As soon as they climbed back into it Jimmy Butler put the cape on and started getting to the rack at will. The Pacers simply had NO answer for him as he became unconscious on a boy having his way. Once he got going everything the 76ers put in the air seemed to start falling. It was ridiculous.
Before you could bite into your second hot dog the Pacers were getting drug up and down the floor to end the third quarter with the 76ers in complete control 86-71. It was off to the races at that point for the Sixers.
Jimmy Butler led them with 27 points, 8 assists and 5 rebounds. Joel Embiid came through with 22 points, 13 rebounds and 8 assists. J.J. Redick dropped off a solid 20. Philly had 6 guys finish in double figures as they sprinted through the Pacers on national television.
If you haven’t seen Joel Embiid in person you’re missing out. To see a dun that big move as smoothly as he does is incredible. And what can I say about Jimmy Butler? NUTS!!!
Well hopefully the Pacers can shake this one off quickly because they’ve got Dallas rolling into to town on Saturday.