Embiid, Maxey net 31, Sixers top Pacers for 8th straight win

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey each scored 31 points and Tobias Harris added 24 as the Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Indiana Pacers 141-121 on Saturday night to tie their season high with an eighth consecutive win.

In a game of teams missing All-Stars—Philadelphia’s James Harden and Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton—the 76ers shot 61% from the field, led by a whopping 24 points and never looked back after trailing by eight points early conquered.

De’Anthony Melton started in place of Harden and finished with 14 points, five assists, five rebounds and six steals. Embiid scored seven assists and seven rebounds, while Maxey had seven assists.

Aaron Nesmith led the Pacers with 25 points and six rebounds, Andrew Nembhard scored 20 points and Myles Turner finished with 20 points. Indiana shot 51% from the field, but never led again after the first quarter, dropping to 6-4 in the last 10 games.

Philadelphia, ranked third in the Eastern Conference, led 34-24 entering the second period, 72-61 at halftime and 106-95 entering the fourth before breaking open with a 9-0 run to start the last frame.

TIP INS

76ers: Starting power forward PJ Tucker was sidelined with a sore left ankle. … Drafted by the Pacers in 2016, Georges Niang was one of two double-digit bench scorers for Philadelphia. He and Paul Reed had 10 each. … The 76ers, who improved to 22-12 on the road, were beaten 47-35.

Pacers: Bennedict Mathurin, with a 16.6-point average, the second most rookies, sat out with a sprained right ankle. … Shane Steichen, hired last month as the new head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, attended the Pacers pregame shootaround along with wide receivers coach Reggie Wayne. … Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said there is “a little longer” time frame left for the return of Haliburton, who missed his fourth game in a row.

NEXT ONE

76ers: Host the Chicago Bulls on Monday nights.

Pacers: Begin a four-game journey in the Charlotte Hornets on Monday night.