76ers Vs Pacers — 76ers vs pacers: 135-114 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse
In Indianapolis, the 76ers routed the Pacers 135-114 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, a game decided by a decisive second quarter. The 76ers vs pacers matchup featured Tyrese Maxey's 32 points, nine rebounds and eight assists and left the Pacers scrambling after a fast start.
Game overview and score
All-Star point guard Tyrese Maxey posted 32 points, nine rebounds and eight assists to lead the 76ers to the 135-114 win over the Pacers on Tuesday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The 76ers improved to 32-26 and sit in sixth place in the East. The Pacers have lost four straight to start the post-All-Star Break period and fell to 15-44, sitting alone in last place in the Eastern Conference.
Tyrese Maxey's standout night
Maxey went 10 of 22 from the field, with seven of his 10 field goals coming in the paint, and he hit two 3-pointers on eight attempts. He also made 10 of 10 free throws, grabbed nine rebounds, had two steals and committed two turnovers while dishing out eight assists. The game narrative described him as impossible to contain in the open floor and nearly as unstoppable in the half court.
76ers Vs Pacers turning point
The Pacers led 38-30 after the first quarter, but the lead evaporated early in the second. The Sixers opened the quarter on a 17-0 run to take a 47-40 advantage. Indiana missed its first 10 field goals of the second quarter before finally making one. Philadelphia outscored them 45-27 in the period to take a 75-65 halftime lead, making 16 of 21 field goals in the second for 1. 51 points per possession; the Pacers were 10 of 28 and 2 of 13 from 3-point range in the period for 0. 88 points per possession.
Pacers' early push faded
Indiana shot 14 of 25 from the floor and 6 of 11 from 3-point range in the first quarter, posting 1. 35 points per possession in that period. Rookie guard Kam Jones came out hot, scoring the Pacers' first eight points; Jones finished with 13 points. Micah Potter also scored eight first-quarter points and ultimately led Indiana with 23 points. Guards Andrew Nembhard and center Micah Potter each finished with 23 points for the Pacers, guard Quenton Jackson added 15 points, and rookie guard Kam Jones scored 13 in the loss.
Micah Potter's career night
With Ivica Zubac still out and the 280-pound Joel Embiid being a particularly tough matchup for the skinnier Jay Huff, the Pacers put a heavy burden on Micah Potter at the 5 because he has a little more muscle. The former Wisconsin star responded with the highest scoring game of his NBA career, scoring 23 points — the first time he cracked the 20-point mark — on 9 of 11 shooting including 3 of 5 from 3-point range. Potter also grabbed three rebounds, blocked two shots and dished three assists. The Pacers finished -8 in his minutes, which was one of the best plus-minus figures on the team.
Sixers supporting cast and absences
Center Joel Embiid scored 27 points, grabbed six rebounds and dished out five assists for the Sixers; the report noted Embiid was back but clearly still hobbled by knee problems. Rookie guard VJ Edgecombe had 23 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Guard Quentin Grimes added 15 points. Much of the star power on these two rosters was dimmed: the Pacers were without Tyrese Haliburton and Obi Toppin as usual but were also missing Pascal Siakam, Ivica Zubac and Aaron Nesmith. The Sixers weren't nearly as short-handed, but forward and former Pacers All-Star Paul George is out on a 25-game suspension.
The Pacers cut into the lead at points in the second half, but the Sixers turned the game into a runaway after the second quarter surge. The sequence — Pacers' first-quarter edge, a Sixers 17-0 start to the second quarter, Indiana's prolonged shooting slump and Philadelphia's efficient second period — defined the outcome.
Final box: 76ers 135, Pacers 114; 76ers 32-26 (sixth in East); Pacers 15-44 (last in East); Maxey 32 points, Embiid 27 points, VJ Edgecombe 23 points; Micah Potter and Andrew Nembhard 23 points each; Quenton Jackson 15; Kam Jones 13. Game played at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Closing: The 76ers' decisive second quarter and Maxey's all-around game sealed a 135-114 victory, while the Pacers' early shooting success could not be sustained and they began the post-All-Star Break stretch with a fourth straight loss.
