76ers Vs Pacers: Inside Philadelphia’s 135-114 Win and Who Gains Ground

Here’s why this matters for the stretch run: the 76ers vs pacers matchup on Feb 24, 2026 handed Philadelphia a decisive road win that immediately affects rotation choices, player workloads and the team’s short-term confidence. Joel Embiid returned from a multi-game absence and Tyrese Maxey produced an aggressive, all-around night — outcomes that land with players, coaches and opponents first, and with scoreboard consequences for the weeks ahead.

Impact on personnel and the rotation

Joel Embiid’s return after missing five games with right shin soreness and right knee injury management changes the immediate picture. He finished with 27 points and, in one account of the game, was credited with six rebounds and five assists; he scored 20 points in the first half on an efficient 11-of-17 shooting line in 26 minutes. It’s easy to overlook, but that level of efficiency on limited minutes clears space for lineup flexibility.

Tyrese Maxey led the team with 32 points and was active across the stat sheet with nine rebounds and eight assists in one box-line. Maxey also led Philadelphia physically on the glass in the primary box-line that listed nine rebounds. VJ Edgecombe supplied 23 points — noted both as a 9-of-13 shooting night and as a 23-point, seven-rebound effort — underscoring a hot stretch from deep coming off a Sunday where he reportedly hit six triples on seven attempts against Minnesota. Kelly Oubre Jr. was also in the contribution column with 12 points, and Quentin Grimes added 15 points in a separate account of the Sixers’ scoring group.

76ers Vs Pacers: Game details from the 135-114 result (Feb 24, 2026, Indianapolis)

Scoreline and flow: Philadelphia beat Indiana 135-114 in Indianapolis on Feb 24, 2026. The Pacers led 38-30 after one quarter before the 76ers opened the second with a 17-0 run to take a 47-38 lead. Philadelphia shot 64% in the first half to lead 75-65 at intermission. Maxey poured in 13 points in the third as the Sixers stretched the margin to 106-85 entering the fourth, and they reached a 28-point advantage in the fourth before emptying the bench.

Box-score context and physical edges: the 76ers shot 58% for the game in one summary, while Indiana shot 42% and committed 16 turnovers. Philadelphia held a 44-41 rebounding edge in one account; Jarace Walker is credited with 10 rebounds for Indiana. The Sixers dominated inside with an 82-52 advantage in points in the paint. On Indiana’s side, Andrew Nembhard and Micah Potter each scored 23 points, with Potter’s total listed as a career high. Quenton Jackson scored 15 for the Pacers and rookie Kam Jones added a career-high 13. Pacers leading scorer Pascal Siakam was out with a left wrist sprain, and Aaron Nesmith missed his third consecutive game with a right ankle sprain.

Three immediate takeaways

• Embiid’s efficient return stabilizes minutes planning and allows the team to consider shorter, higher-impact shifts from the center in coming games.
• Maxey’s scoring plus playmaking (32 points, nine rebounds, eight assists in one line) signals regained form after a rough patch; that aggressiveness on the glass and in facilitation is likely to be leaned on down the stretch of the 2025-26 season.
• Edgecombe’s shooting streak—highlighted by a 9-for-13 night and a prior 6-of-7 from deep—creates spacing that opened the paint for the 82-52 points-in-the-paint edge.
• Indiana’s absences (Pascal Siakam; Aaron Nesmith) and 16 turnovers compounded, leaving the Pacers exposed on both ends; development of bench scorers like Micah Potter (career high 23) and rookie Kam Jones (career-high 13) is a silver lining for them.

Here’s the part that matters for readers tracking momentum: Philadelphia finished 2-1 on this 3-game trip, a small but useful stretch that changes how the next few matchups might be approached.

Road trip, recent form and short-term outlook

The win completed a 2-1 road trip for Philadelphia. One analysis noted Embiid hadn’t played in 17 days before this outing, framing the return as both a physical and rhythm development. The Sixers have reportedly leaned heavily on Maxey this 2025-26 season and are likely to continue doing so down the stretch; this game provides immediate evidence that his recent form is helping the team snap a difficult run (the context mentioned a prior 4-game losing streak that had frustrated the roster).

Pacers planning note: Indiana will host Charlotte on Thursday night following this loss.

Game snapshot

The real question now is how Philadelphia manages minutes and matchups while keeping newly regained rhythm intact; for Indiana, the focus will be recovery and limiting turnovers. The bigger signal here is that the Sixers’ interior play and three-point shooting combined to create a clear formula for this win.