National Basketball Association
Philadelphia 141, Indiana 121
When: 7:00 PM ET, Saturday, March 18, 2023
Where: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana
Officials: #33 Sean Corbin, #51 Aaron Smith, #60 James Williams
Attendance: 17274

Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey scored 31 points apiece as the Philadelphia 76ers won their eighth straight game, beating the short-handed Indiana Pacers 141-121 on Saturday in Indianapolis.

Embiid contributed seven rebounds and seven assists, Tobias Harris scored 24 points and De'Anthony Melton had 14 points and six steals for Philadelphia (48-22), which completed a four-game season series sweep of the Pacers.

Aaron Nesmith led Indiana (32-39) with a career-high 25 points. Andrew Nembhard scored 22 points, Myles Turner added 20 and Buddy Hield, Jordan Nwora and Jalen Smith had 13 apiece for the Pacers, who lost despite shooting 51.7 percent from the field.

Philadelphia shot 61.4 percent from the field and 15 of 35 (42.9 percent) from beyond the arc. Embiid has scored at least 30 points in nine straight games for the Sixers, who have won six consecutive road games.

Indiana jumped to a 12-4 lead, but Philadelphia answered with a 14-0 run and never looked back. Melton closed the first quarter with a steal and a fastbreak dunk to put the Sixers ahead 34-24.

Maxey had 22 points on 9-for-11 shooting to give Philadelphia a 72-61 lead at the half. Embiid scored 15 points for the Sixers, who shot 63.6 percent from the field and 8 of 18 (44.4 percent) from 3-point range.

Georges Niang and Paul Reed finished with 10 points apiece for Philadelphia, which led by 17 late in the third quarter before the Pacers scored nine of the final 12 points to pull within 106-95.

The Sixers stretched their lead to 125-105 on Maxey's trey with 7:14 remaining and maintained a double-digit lead throughout the fourth quarter. Maxey was 12 of 18 from the field and 5 of 9 from 3-point range.

Indiana played without Tyrese Haliburton (right ankle sprain), Chris Duarte (left ankle soreness) and Bennedict Mathurin (right ankle sprain).

The Sixers were without starters James Harden (injury recovery) and P.J. Tucker (ankle soreness). Jalen McDaniels returned following a two-game absence and scored seven points in 16 minutes.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Philadelphia   Indiana
Joel Embiid 31 Scoring Aaron Nesmith 25
Joel Embiid 7 Assists T.J. McConnell 9
Joel Embiid 7 Rebounds Jordan Nwora 9
Joel Embiid 10 Free Throws Made Myles Turner 6
De'Anthony Melton 6 Steals Buddy Hield 2
Joel Embiid 2 Blocks T.J. McConnell 2
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Philadelphia 141 61.4 15-35 18-22 31 30 6 11 8
Indiana 121 51.7 12-31 19-20 28 41 5 5 17
Upcoming Games
  • Indiana will play their next game on the road against Charlotte. The Pacers have a W/L % of .406 after a win and .487 after a loss.
  • Philadelphia will play their next game at home against Chicago. The 76ers have a W/L % of .708 after a win and .636 after a loss.