INDIANAPOLIS – The 76ers were in serious trouble on Wednesday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, facing a 13-point deficit going into the 4th quarter. Tyrese Maxey and the veteran leadership of their frontcourt delivered in the final frame to pull off a spectacular comeback and defeat the Indiana Pacers 114-109.
Maxey was the leading scorer for the Sixers with 27 points, carrying the team on his back in the crucial moments. The spark plug hit two key 3s in the final minute and a half (including a crucial one with 46 seconds to go) to put Philly out in front 112-106 and put the game beyond any chance of a comeback.
After the win, Maxey pointed to the aggressive closing stretch as the key to the victory and credited that to the leadership and encouragement of his two high-profile teammates, LeBron James and Joel Embiid, who kept him going all the way down the stretch.
Embiid was the anchor in the middle with a commanding double-double (21 points, 11 rebounds). James continued to run the show in his 24th NBA season with 13 points and 10 assists. He was able to take control of the game in the final period, overcoming a few difficult defensive possessions (including a highlight-reel chase-down block by Indiana's Jalen Slawson and a very slick crossover from Andrew Nembhard).
The game featured massive momentum swings. Philadelphia had a 62-52 lead at the break after rookie V.J. Edgecombe had hit a sensational half-court heave at the buzzer. Indiana then went on a 17-0 run to open the second half of the game, shooting 13 for 23 from the field and holding the Sixers to just 5 for 21. By the end of the third quarter, they were up by 75.
But the 76ers woke up in the 4th and completely turned the game around, outscoring the Pacers 39-21 over the final 12 minutes. Maxey tied it at 94 on a drive-and-layup, then hit two free throws shortly after to put the 76ers ahead, and they never looked back.
The Pacers fought hard without their franchise player Tyrese Haliburton (left hamstring strain). Pascal Siakam stepped up with 26 points and 11 rebounds (fouled out in the final seconds). Nembhard was the guy in that absence with 18 points and 14 assists (returning from a neck injury), and Aaron Nesmith added 18 points.
With the dramatic come-from-behind win, the new-look 76ers have improved their early-season record to 4-1 and have proven they have the firepower to close out tight games even when the momentum is against them.
