PHILADELPHIA vs. INDIANA

SCHEDULE

Today at Philadelphia, 9:30 a.m.

Tuesday at Philadelphia, 5 p.m.

April 28 at Indiana, 9:30 a.m.

May 2 at Indiana, TBD*

May 4 at Philadelphia, TBD*

* if necessary; TBD--to be determined

THE BREAKDOWN

* Team records (seeds): (1) Philadelphia 56-26, (8) Indiana 41-41.

* Season series: 76ers, 3-0; Jan. 28--Philadelphia 86, at Indiana 81; April 1--at Philadelphia 104, Indiana 93; April 17--Philadelphia 111, at Indiana 105 (OT).

* Head coaches: Larry Brown (fourth season), Isiah Thomas (first season).

* Scouting report: The Pacers had a confused season--are we rebuilding or what?--under rookie Coach Isiah Thomas, while the 76ers overachieved daily under the certain coach of the year, Larry Brown. The Pacers warmed up late, winning six of their last seven, but this team, with young Jermaine O’Neal and Al Harrington making postseason debuts as starters, is new to this level of competition. The 76ers went so hard for so long, they looked out on their feet at the end when they put Allen Iverson on the injured list just out of general principles. Nevertheless, Indiana’s kids aren’t ready for their hard-nosed defense.

* Prediction: Philadelphia, 3-1.

PROBABLE 76ER STARTERS

G Allen Iverson 31.1 pts, 4.6 ast

G Eric Snow 9.8 pts, 7.4 ast

F George Lynch 8.4 pts. 7.2 reb

F Tyrone Hill 9.6 pts, 9.0 reb

C Dikembe Mutombo 10.0 pts, 13.5 reb

KEY RESERVES

G Aaron McKie 11.6 pts, 5.0 ast

G Rodney Buford 5.3 pts

C Matt Geiger 6.1 pts, 4.0 reb

PROBABLE PACER STARTERS

G Reggie Miller 18.9 pts

G Jalen Rose 20.5 pts, 6.0 ast

F Al Harrington 7.5 pts, 4.9 reb

F Jermaine O’Neal 12.9 pts, 9.8 reb

C Sam Perkins 3.8 pts, 2.6 reb

KEY RESERVES

F Austin Croshere 10.1 pts, 4.8 reb

G Travis Best 11.9 pts, 6.1 ast

F Jeff Foster 3.5 pts, 5.5 reb

*--*

THE MATCHUPS PHI IND Avg. points 94.7 (15) 92.6 (19) Avg. points allowed 90.4 (5) 92.8 (9) Avg. rebounds 44.8 (4) 42.9 (13) Opp. avg. rebounds 40.9 (6) 43.1 (19) Field goal % .447 (12) .440 (15) Opp. field goal % .429 (5) .423 (3) Free throw % .745 (18) .766 (7) Three point % .326 (26) .342 (22)

*--*

Research by Roy Jurgens