INDIANAPOLIS — The 76ers left town as the Eastern Conference’s lone winless team but that might not be the case for long.
Even after another early-season defeat, the Sixers say they are seeing progress.
The Sixers could’ve used Joel Embiid’s scoring punch in Wednesday’s 122-115 overtime loss to the Pacers (see Instant Replay), but they still managed to hold their own in the paint without the 7-foot rookie.
Jahlil Okafor played what might have been the most complete game of his young career and Dario Saric added 14 points and a career-best 12 rebounds — his first-ever double-double — to help the Sixers win the battle on the boards, 44-43.
The Sixers expect to have Embiid, who skipped the trip for team-mandated rest (see story), back on the floor Friday when they host the Pacers at the Wells Fargo Center.
Okafor, who played almost 24 minutes, finished with 15 points on 7 for 11 shooting but got lauded for his defense.
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“I think he’s improving his positional awareness,” Brett Brown said of Okafor, who, like Embiid, is on a minutes-restriction plan of his own because of his injury history. “I think he’s really starting to understand NBA pick-and-roll defense a lot better. I see growth. He’s more committed.
“Because of his minute duration, we’re still limited in how much we can play him, but in general, I thought he made improvement tonight.”
Okafor — who got a look at a potential game-winning shot in the final seconds of regulation — said he’d rather have the win, but acknowledged extra work with teammates and the coaching staff has helped.
“They’ve been proud of the way I’ve been progressing at both ends of the floor. That’s all I can do,” he said.
“Just more experience, more games being played. Just getting better as I play.”
The Sixers appeared poised to end their season-opening skid after a 10-0 run late in regulation, but the Pacers stuck around and tied the game at 109 on Paul George’s short jumper with 3.9 seconds to play. Okafor got the ball in the low post on the ensuing possession but his fadeaway jumper was long as time expired.
George nailed a three-pointer early in the extra period to give the hosts the lead for good.
Robert Covington had 23 points to lead the Sixers in their seventh straight loss. Hollis Thompson came off the bench to add 19 and Gerald Henderson added 17.
The leadership of Indiana’s George (28 points) and fellow veteran Jeff Teague (30 points, nine assists) made the difference at the end as the Sixers missed six straight shots in overtime to give the Pacers a fusion.
“We gave them life at the end of regulation,” Brown said. “Paul hit a great shot and they got going here at home and carried that enthusiasm and aggression into overtime defense.”
Still, the play of Okafor and Saric, who added a solid physical effort near the basket, gives the Sixers hope of ending a dubious streak that has seen them drop 44 straight games in October and November. Their last victory in either month came almost three years ago.
“We’re really close,” Okafor said. “Right now everyone’s frustrated because we feel like we let that one go right there.”