Tyrese Haliburton delivered a commanding performance with 32 points and 11 assists, leading the Indiana Pacers to a 121-107 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night. The win improved Indiana to 11-15 on the season, while Philadelphia dropped to 7-16.
Joel Embiid’s night ended prematurely after sustaining a sinus fracture late in the first quarter. The injury occurred during a collision with Bennedict Mathurin, leaving Embiid sidelined for the second half. In his limited 17 minutes, the Sixers’ star tallied 12 points, four rebounds, and five assists.
Haliburton set the tone early, hitting four three-pointers in the first quarter as the Pacers built a 29-22 lead. He went on to finish the game with seven three-pointers, giving Indiana a much-needed offensive spark.
Pascal Siakam added 23 points and eight rebounds, while Obi Toppin contributed 20 points and eight boards for Indiana. The Pacers leaned on their athleticism and efficient shooting, with 51.6% accuracy from the field and 36.8% from beyond the arc.
The 76ers were led by Tyrese Maxey, who scored 22 points in a losing effort. Paul George chipped in 15 points, and Kelly Oubre Jr. grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds, but Philadelphia struggled to find consistency without Embiid anchoring their lineup.
Indiana took control in the third quarter, outscoring Philadelphia 36-26. Their defense capitalized on turnovers, forcing 10 steals while limiting the Sixers to just 43.5% shooting overall.
Philadelphia has been hampered by injuries all season, with Embiid, Maxey, and George playing together for over 30 minutes in only one game this year. Friday’s loss raises further concerns for a team already plagued by inconsistencies.
