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While their offensive game has been clicking, the Philadelphia 76ers are enjoying their best start in 11 seasons behind a stifling defensive display.

The Indiana Pacers have also experienced plenty of early season success by clamping down on their opponents.

Points could be at a premium as the Pacers visit a 76ers team seeking a fifth consecutive victory for the first time in almost two years Monday night.

Off to its best start since winning its first 10 games in 2000-01, Philadelphia (5-2) ranks near the top of the league with 100.9 points per contest. The 76ers, however, have been even more impressive defending their end of the court, where they’re surrendering a league-low average of 85.6 points.

Philadelphia’s defensive prowess was on full display during Saturday’s 97-62 rout of Toronto. The Raptors’ point total was the lowest in the 15-year history of the Wells Fargo Center and the second-lowest by an opponent since the start of the 1985-86 season.

“It’s all about playing defense. We know we can score. It’s all about how we react and how we respond on defense,” forward Elton Brand told the team’s official website.

*The Sixers, who held the Raptors to an arena-record for fewest points (62), have won four of their five games by 20-plus points.

*The Sixers' commitment to hitting the boards is showing, as they lead the league in defensive rebounding (34.6).

*The Pacers gave up 30 points to the Bobcats in the first quarter. They only gave up a total of 28 points in the second half. Charlotte only shot 22 percent on 10-of-46 shooting after halftime.

"We came in sluggish," F Tyler Hansbrough said. "Didn't do what we were supposed to do, but then we picked up the effort, began to fight with team relentlessness and helped us to this win."

*The Pacers are 3-0 at home for the first time since 2002, when they opened the season by winning their first seven home games. Coach Frank Vogel wants his team to have at least a .500 record on the road and be even better at home. Indiana is on its way to doing that.

NBA.com has a reporter in every arena, scouring the locker rooms and hitting press row for all the latest news, notes and anecdotes leading up to tipoff. Ten Before Tip is your source for lineup scratches, injury updates and all last-minute info that could affect the outcome of the game. Every night, before every game, NBA.com’s writers will be filing short TBT blog posts directly from the arena, covering the latest storylines to keep you fully informed.

Gremz wrote:What's up with Roy? Why he be Game Time Decision?

frizzledizzle wrote:Stephenson blows. Let's hope the Pacers can stay relatively healthy throughout the season because the less girlfriend beater plays, the better.

Indy2thaWindy wrote:

frizzledizzle wrote:Stephenson blows. Let's hope the Pacers can stay relatively healthy throughout the season because the less girlfriend beater plays, the better.

He's tried drawing 2 fouls with the shot clock counting down. He basically is told to sit in the corner while AJ Price gets pushed back near the halfcourt line by his defender and Dahntay Jones pretends he's Kobe. It's all good. We were never going to win without "Danny Granger's playoff clutchness" tonight.