Pacers potential playoff opponents preview: Philadelphia 76ers

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 3: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers and Victor Oladipo #4 of the Indiana Pacers after the game on November 3, 2017 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 3: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers and Victor Oladipo #4 of the Indiana Pacers after the game on November 3, 2017 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Joel Embiid Victor Oladipo Pacers 76ers
PHILADELPHIA, PA – NOVEMBER 3: Joel Embiid /

The NBA playoffs begin in just over two weeks. Let’s preview a series against every potential first-round opponent for the Pacers. Next up: the Philadelphia 76ers.

As of today, the Indiana Pacers and Philadelphia 76ers are deadlocked in a sprint for the 4 seed (and home court in the first round). If the playoffs started today, the matchup would be the 4th seeded 76ers hosting the 5th seeded Pacers. The Pacers won the season series 2-1 and would hold the tiebreaker if the teams finished with identical records. The Pacers have a much harder closing schedule (according to records) than the 76ers, but face off with the severely depleted Golden State Warriors and already clinched Raptors in the next few days. The Warriors are currently missing Steph Curry, making at least the first matchup much more winnable. The fight to the finish is tilted in the Sixers direction, but not as much as the oddsmaking software would lead us to believe. For this breakdown, we’re going with the odds and assuming Philly would have the home court advantage.

Let’s break down the matchups.