Joel Embiid, Maxey net 31, 76ers top Pacers for 8th straight win

INDIANAPOLIS(AP) — Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey each scored 31 points andTobias Harris added 24 as the Philadelphia 76ers routed the IndianaPacers 141-121 on Saturday night to match their season high with aneighth consecutive victory.

In a matchupof teams missing All-Stars — Philadelphia’s James Harden andIndiana’s Tyrese Haliburton — the 76ers shot 61% from the field,led by as many as 24 points and never looked back after overcomingan early eight-point deficit.

Embiid, whoset a franchise record with his ninth straight outing of at least30 points, chipped in seven assists and seven rebounds.Philadelphia legends Allen Iverson and Wilt Chamberlain each hadeight-game runs of 30 points or more.

“Embiid isright now probably the (NBA) MVP with what their team is doing andhow he’s just elevated his game,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said.“He’s as a difficult a guy to plan for as there is in the game. Hehad 31 points and made it look like he wasn’t even trying to do it.He’s a walking cheat code.”

De’AnthonyMelton started in Harden’s place and finished with 14 points, fiveassists, five rebounds and six steals, while Maxey had sevenassists.

“I was reallyhappy,” Sixers coach Doc Rivers said. “Everybody contributed. Joelat times was our point guard. He probably had 15 hockey assists,and that was just terrific. Low turnovers. Against a high-scoringteam on the road, you had to do that.”

Aaron Nesmithled the Pacers with 25 points and six rebounds, Andrew Nembhardscored 20 points, and Myles Turner finished with 20 points. Indianashot 51% from the field, but never led after the first quarter anddropped to 6-4 in its last 10 games.

Philadelphia,in third place in the Eastern Conference, led 34-24 entering thesecond period, 72-61 at halftime and 106-95 entering the fourthbefore breaking it open with a 9-0 run to start the final frame.Harden missed the game due to “injury recovery,” according to theteam.

“The thingabout Harden being out is now the ball is going to be in Joel’shands a lot more and Maxey’s hands a lot more, and we didn’t doenough things to make it hard on them,” Carlisle said. “Bad gamefor us. We just didn’t play well. Disappointing.”

TIP-INS

76ers:Starting power forward P.J. Tucker was sidelined by a sore leftankle. … Georges Niang, drafted by the Pacers in 2016, was one oftwo double-figure bench scorers for Philadelphia. He and Paul Reedhad 10 each. … The 76ers, who improved to 22-12 on the road, wereoutrebounded 47-35.

Pacers:Bennedict Mathurin, averaging 16.6 points, second-most amongrookies, sat out with a sprained right ankle. … Shane Steichen,hired last month as the Indianapolis Colts’ new head coach,attended the Pacers’ pregame shootaround along with wide receiverscoach Reggie Wayne. … Carlisle said “a little longer” timetableremains for the return of Haliburton, who missed his fourthstraight contest.

UPNEXT

76ers: Hostthe Chicago Bulls on Monday night.

Pacers: Begina four-game trip Monday night at the Charlotte Hornets.