If the Indiana Pacers are to avoid their longest losing streak in more than 18 years, they'll have to do so without their best player.

With power forward Jermaine O'Neal sidelined by a sprained knee, the Pacers look to end a seven-game slide against the suddenly streaking Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday night at Conseco Fieldhouse.

Indiana's skid continued after losing 94-72 to Utah on Wednesday, and the loss ultimately could be more costly. O'Neal - the Pacers' leader with 19.7 points, 10.0 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game - left in the third quarter after scoring 11 points and didn't return.

According to the team's Web site, an MRI revealed a sprain that will sideline O'Neal for three games.

"Everybody's got to step up," said Pacers forward Mike Dunleavy. "I don't think you can look at it like one guy's got to carry the load. Everybody's got to improve their play and step in there and look to be more aggressive."

Indiana (29-31), which hasn't dropped eight in a row since a nine-game slide in February 1989, also will be without swingman Marquis Daniels due to a sore left knee that's expected to keep him out of action for another four games. Daniels, who's averaging 7.1 points, has missed the last three contests.

"We've just got to battle," said Pacers coach Rick Carlisle. "You can't sit around feeling sorry for yourself ... We've got plenty of good players here to win. The key is we're going to have to have great effort, great execution because we're playing good teams right now."

Despite their slide, the Pacers are in seventh place in the Eastern Conference, 1 1/2 games ahead of eighth-place Orlando.

Indiana has won four in a row from Philadelphia, including both matchups this season, but will be facing an improved Sixers squad that is making a late playoff push.

Philadelphia (24-38) has won a season-high six in a row, including an impressive 108-92 over Kobe Bryantand the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday.

"It's a heck of an accomplishment to win six straight home games at any point in time. For a young group to do it, it's even bigger," said coach Maurice Cheeks, whom the Sixers said would be retained next season.

Andre Iguodala, who scored 31 points, was pleased the team decided to bring back Cheeks.

?(It's) another year with a coach who has let me become the player who I am, who has really given me the team, who has trusted me, so far, this season as everything has gone on," said Iguodala, who's become the face of the franchise since former MVP Allen Iverson was traded to Denver earlier this season. "That is just going to make me work harder this summer and come back and give him all I've got."

Iguodala, who averages 18.2 points, has scored a total of 30 points in two losses to Indiana this season.

Philadelphia is in 11th place in the East, but only 4 1/2 games behind Orlando.