NBA: Joel Embiid scores 42 as 76ers hold off Pacers in shootout
Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center on February 27, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images/AFP
Joel Embiid scored 42 points to lead six players in double figures as the visiting Philadelphia 76ers outlasted the Indiana Pacers 147-143 on Monday in Indianapolis.
Tyrese Maxey made six 3-pointers and scored 24 points for Philadelphia, which matched its season-high point total. James Harden came close to a triple-double with 14 points, 20 assists and nine rebounds. Jalen McDaniels had 20 points, Shake Milton scored 15 and Danuel House Jr. had 10 points.
Tyrese Haliburton led Indiana with 40 points and a season-high 16 assists. Jordan Nwora scored 16 points, Buddy Hield added 15, Jalen Smith 14, Bennedict Mathurin 13 and T.J. McConnell 12. Myles Turner was limited to 10 points while battling foul trouble.
Two days after snapping the Milwaukee Bucks’ 16-game winning streak with a 133-130 victory, the Sixers needed another strong offensive effort to win its fifth straight against the Pacers. The game featured 24 ties and 32 lead changes.
Going over 40 for the 11th time this season 🔥
Joel Embiid finishes with 42 PTS in the @sixers win on the road! pic.twitter.com/UddGffAIc9
— NBA (@NBA) March 7, 2023
Neither team led by more than six points until Milton’s trey capped a 10-0 run to put Philadelphia ahead 128-118 with 7:49 remaining.
Indiana battled back and cut the deficit to five with three minutes left before De’Anthony Melton answered with a 3-pointer. Haliburton’s trey pulled the Pacers within four with 52 seconds left, but Philadelphia was able to seal the victory at the foul line.
Both teams laid the foundation for a high-scoring game in the first quarter. Maxey scored 14 points in the quarter for the Sixers, who trailed 39-38 after Indiana shot 65.4 percent.
The fast pace continued in the second quarter, which ended with Haliburton drilling a 3-pointer at the buzzer. Haliburton had 22 points and nine assists in the half for Indiana, which held a 79-78 advantage at the break after both teams shot at least 61 percent.
The teams were tied after three quarters at 114. Embiid scored 14 points in the quarter to lead Philadelphia.
The Sixers played without injured starters Tobias Harris (left calf soreness) and P.J. Tucker (back spasms), who are both listed as day-to-day.
Embiid was 19-for-19 from the foul line for Philadelphia, which shot 58.5 percent from the field and 16-of-34 (47.1 percent) from 3-point range.
Indiana lost despite shooting 58.9 percent from the field and 15-of-37 (40.5 percent) from beyond the arc. The Pacers shot 22-of-31 (71 percent) from the foul line while the Sixers as a team went 35-of-38 (92.1 percent).
