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Shorthanded Pacers looking to rebound against Brand-less 76ers

Dec 20, 2008 - 3:01 PM Indiana (9-17) at Philadelphia (12-14) 7:30 pm EST

PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- It was only a matter of time before the Indiana Pacers started to struggle without their key components.

The Philadlphia 76ers are hoping to avoid hitting a smilar wall.

The Pacers look to bounce back on Saturday when they visit the 76ers, who will be without leading-scorer Elton Brand.

Indiana's top three scorers, Danny Granger, Marquis Daniels and Troy Murphy all missed Friday's contest after going to the hospital with flu-like symptoms.

Without the trio in the lineup, Indiana failed to outlast the Los Angeles Clippers, eventually dropping a 117-109 decision in double overtime.

Granger, who is averaging a team-high 24.4 points, scored 41 and 27 points in his previous two games, leading the Pacers to wins against the Washington Wizards and Golden State Warriors.

Those wins came without Mike Dunleavy, who has been one of the Pacers' top players in the past but has not played this season as he continues to recover from a sore knee.

Despite missing Brand, who will be out a month while rehabbing a fracture and tear in his right shoulder suffered agianst the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday, the 76ers claimed a 109-103 victory over Washington on Friday.

The win was the third in a row for Philadelphia, which has yet to put together a four-game streak.