Elijah Poe column: Man, these Pacers are hurt!

Before I dive into the matchup between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Indiana Pacers, I think it is worth mentioning just how great an environment Gainbridge Fieldhouse is.

The Pacers have dove into their history this season with variations of different uniforms and merchandise. Even if it is likely just to sell more merch, they got me, because I love it!

There is something surreal about being in Indiana at a basketball game at any level.

There is the classic, but corny, saying, “In 49 other states…,” and so on, but it rings true.

Before the game started, the Pacers played a lengthy video going through the franchise’s history and moments of greatness.

While the video was great, it hit me when I was watching it that basketball really is our game.

Basketball is Indiana, and Indiana is basketball. It’s the gritty plays, the tough defense and diving for a loose ball. It’s the flashy breakaway dunks, the clutch 3-pointer and tough and one.

I’ll get off glorifying basketball, as I will save that for another column, but there really is no other sport so loved by a state like basketball is around here.

It’s the best.

Philadelphia (4-1) 114, Indiana (2-3) 109

This game already kind of felt over before it began with the news of Tyrese Haliburton being sidelined for the next couple of weeks due to a left hamstring strain.

Going against LeBron James, Joel Embiid, Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe without the Pacers’ best player on the floor was a tall task. To make things worse, Ivica Zubac is still sidelined with his left ankle sprain.

I have to admit, it was surreal to see LeBron James in the flesh. Love him or hate him, he is 1A or 1B (however you view it) greatest basketball players of all time.

With Andrew Nembhard running the point and Jay Huff at center, the Pacers were knotted up with the 76ers 25-25 after one quarter. It was a chippy first quarter with Pascal Siakam leading the Pacers from the moment the ball tipped.

The second quarter was about what I expected before the game started, as Philadelphia outscored the Pacers 37-27.

But the Pacers surprised me again in the third quarter, opening the frame with a 17-0 run to take a commanding lead heading into the fourth frame. The Pacers outscored Philly 36-13 in the third.

Then the collapse started in the fourth quarter.

LeBron, Maxey and the 76ers took over the final quarter, outscoring the Pacers 39-21 to pick up the win. Indiana did have moments to claw back when it was late, but just could not find the bottom of the net.

Without Zubac, the Pacers are really struggling in the paint. While they won the rebounding battle (for the first time this season), Embiid was dominating the paint against Larry Nance Jr.

Nance Jr. was an outright liability in the fourth quarter. He was getting cooked and could not find a bucket. He had the worst plus/minus on Indiana with -12.

I am not sure why Huff wasn’t in the game, as Nance Jr. played seven more minutes, and most of those minutes came in the fourth quarter.

Regardless, the Pacers put up a valiant fight against an NBA champion-hopeful team while they are still beat up pretty bad.

I really do think the Pacers are going to be a great team this season, but a two-week skid to start the season without Haliburton and Zubac is not a great start. There is plenty of time to turn it around, but the injury bug seems to be gripping this Pacers team.

UP NEXT: The Pacers will travel to Miami to face Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Heat Oct. 30 at 8 p.m.