Sixers-Pacers takeaways: Win shows result of ball movement, but Sixers still need to do a better job of sustaining effort

Monday’s contest offered a confidence boost for the 76ers. In the process, the game also proved to be Shake Milton’s time to showcase his skills in the rotation. Yet the hard truth remains that the Sixers need to sustain their level of play throughout four quarters.

Below is my look at three things that stood out during the Sixers’ 120-106 victory over the Indiana Pacers at the Wells Fargo Center.

The Sixers were in desperate need of a pick-me-up game. They needed a game where Tobias Harris would feel like a contributing part of the starting lineup. The Sixers also needed a game where the bench would feel useful. And they needed a victory.

They accomplished all those things against the woeful Pacers (1-3).

“It was a ‘We day,’” reserve Danuel House Jr. said.

For the first time this season, the Sixers (1-3) had solid ball movement. Players passed up good shots to get the ball to teammates for great ones. That enabled the Sixers to post a season-high 25 assists on 38 made baskets. Tobias Harris benefitted from that. The power forward finished with 18 points on 7-for-14 shooting, including going 4 of 10 on three-pointers. As a team, the Sixers shot 19-for-43 on three-pointers. The number of attempts and made three-pointers were both season highs.

Meanwhile, the Sixers bench scored 36 points after combining to score 34 in the first three games.

“We knew coming in that we needed to win,” said Harris, whose squad opened the season 0-3 for the first time since the 2017-18 season. “Outside of that, we went over in shootaround today, the emphasis was to get the ball moving. To get the ball to touch a lot of guys’ hands, get movement, get flow to the offense. And we put in a couple of new things to create some ball movement.”

One of those things that helped was getting the ball out of James Harden’s hands quicker. On several occasions, the point guard zipped the ball down court to teammates in transition instead of dribbling it up the court.

That enabled the Sixers to find open and easy shots.

» READ MORE: Sixers beat Pacers for first win as James Harden scores 29

Milton saw his first action of the season, entering the game 35 seconds into the second quarter. The combo guard grabbed a rebound, had an assist and was a plus-eight while on the floor for a 4-minute, 13-second stretch. He came in for mop-up duty with 2:00 remaining and the Sixers leading, 119-101.

“We wanted to add another guy to the rotation,” coach Doc Rivers said, “and tonight, it was Shake.”

Asked what he’s looking for when deciding which player to add to the rotation, Rivers said he doesn’t know yet.

“I really don’t,” he said. “Between Matisse [Thybulle] and Shake, you know, Furk, we just got to feel it out. We really are. Going by camp and things, Shake is probably the guy ahead because I thought he played the best.

“But that doesn’t mean in the games that works out the same way.”

It’s become apparent that the Sixers need to do a better job of of sustaining their effort.

They yielded 60 second-half points to the Pacers after holding them to 46 points before intermission. Indiana also dominated bench points, 26-9, after halftime, with Philly’s reserves made just 2 of 9 shots for 22.2%. The Sixers were fortunate to have Harden score 11 fourth-quarter points on 4-for-5 shooting to put a halt to Indiana’s rally.

They can’t afford to allow struggling teams like the Pacers to get back into games.