Tyrese Haliburton’s 33 points and 15 assists, along with Obi Toppin’s 27-point contribution, propelled the Indiana Pacers to a 132-126 victory over the 76ers, snapping Philadelphia’s eight-game winning streak in a decisive NBA In-Season Tournament clash.
In a pivotal East Conference Group A matchup, the Pacers asserted dominance with a 2-0 record in pool play, while the Sixers slipped to 1-1.
Myles Turner’s 17 points, including a remarkable 15 in the fourth quarter, showcased the Pacers’ depth as their bench outscored the Sixers 33-6.
Despite Joel Embiid’s impressive 39-point performance and De’Anthony Melton’s 30-point contribution, the Sixers couldn’t overcome the Pacers’ resilience. Tyrese Maxey, who scored a career-high 50 points against the Pacers on Sunday, was held to 27 points on 9-of-23 shooting.
The Pacers controlled the game for most of the first three quarters, building a 13-point lead early in the third, fueled by Haliburton and Toppin’s hot shooting.
In a stark contrast to Sunday’s match, the Pacers limited the Sixers to five offensive rebounds. Haliburton continued his stellar play, finishing 11 for 18 from the floor and 7 for 12 beyond the 3-point line.
Philadelphia’s bench players scored just 6 points in total against 33 by Indiana’s supporting cast.
The victory, however, was marred by Pacers forward Jalen Smith’s head injury, with no immediate update on his condition after being transported to the hospital for evaluation and additional testing.
