Tyrese Maxey collected 32 points, nine rebounds and eight assists and Joel Embiid added 27 points to fuel the Philadelphia 76ers to a 135-114 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday in Indianapolis.
Maxey made 10 of 22 shots from the floor and all 10 attempts from the free-throw line for the 76ers, who erupted for 45 points in the second quarter and shot a sizzling 57.6% for the game.
Embiid sank 11 of 17 shots from the floor in his return from a five-game absence due to knee and shin issues. The former NBA MVP has tormented Indiana this season, erupting for 39 points in Philadelphia’s 115-105 win over the Pacers on Dec. 12 and adding 30 in a 113-104 victory on Jan. 19.
Rookie VJ Edgecombe recorded 23 points and seven rebounds and Quentin Grimes added 15 points off the bench.
Philadelphia seized its second win in a row following a four-game losing skid and handed Indiana its fourth straight loss and eighth in its last 10 games.
The Pacers played without four-time All-Star Pascal Siakam due to a wrist injury he sustained takes a charge from Khris Middleton late in Sunday’s game against the Dallas Mavericks.
Micah Potter scored a season-high 23 points and Andrew Nembhard matched that total to lead the Pacers.
Philadelphia erased an eight-point deficit by scoring the first 17 points of the second quarter, capped by a fadeaway jumper from Maxey at the 9:29 mark. The 76ers extended their advantage to 15 points at 66-51 before settling for a 10-point lead at halftime.
Nembhard sank a 10-foot jumper to bring Indiana within seven at 88-81 with 4:52 remaining in the third quarter. Philadelphia, however, ignited an 18-4 run to end the quarter, capped by Maxey making a nasty spin move before sinking a pull-up jumper and two free throws.
Trendon Watford went coast-to-coast against a generous Pacers defense and added a short floater to extend the 76ers’ lead to 121-93 midway into the fourth quarter.
