Los Angeles Lakers forward Schifino made his first NBA appearance in 89 days when the Philadelphia 76ers took on the Indiana Pacers. However, he struggled in this game and failed to replicate his magical performance in the G League.
Schifino entered the game as a reserve with 5:18 left in the first quarter, his first appearance in an NBA game since Dec. 2, 2024. He played 8 minutes 47 seconds in the first half but missed all four shots, including 0 for 2 3-pointers, no points, assists, steals or blocks, and only one rebound. Despite the individual struggles, the Philadelphia 76ers still led the Pacers at halftime.
In the second half, the Pacers completed the comeback, and Schifino finally scored in the second half. He scored the first point of his Philadelphia career on two drives and finished 2 of 3 in the third quarter with five points, three assists and two rebounds. In the final quarter, however, Schifino played four minutes and went 0 for 1 from 3-point range without scoring. He played 20 minutes in the game, hitting just 2 of 8 shots and 0 of 4 3-pointers. He had 5 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists, shooting 25 percent, 0 percent on 3-pointers and 28.2 percent on true shooting.
Schifino was the No. 17 first-round pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, but he spent less than two seasons with the Lakers before being traded to the Jazz. However, after arriving with the Jazz, he was cut before he played. In his return to the NBA, Sifino has not overcome his demons and failed to show the magic he showed in the G League.
For Schifino, the match could be a fresh start and a challenge. He needs to adjust his state as soon as possible and overcome the psychological barrier to stand on the NBA court. I hope he can gradually find his form in future games and bring more wonderful performances to the fans.
