Joel Embiid scored a season-high 39 points to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a 115–105 victory over the Indiana Pacers at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Paul George added 23 points, while VJ Edgecombe contributed 22 in the absence of Tyrese Maxey, who sat out with an illness.
The Pacers trailed late after Pascal Siakam’s jumper gave Indiana a 100–95 lead with 8:24 remaining. Philadelphia responded with a 13–2 run, capped by Embiid’s offensive rebound, follow-up basket, and free throw to extend the lead to 108–102.
Embiid, coming off multiple knee issues and having played just nine games this season, looked fully engaged with 14 points in the second quarter alone, including a step-back three at the buzzer. The 76ers improved to 6–4 with Embiid in the lineup, showing the impact of their seven-time All-Star.
Indiana struggled to maintain consistency down the stretch, missing nine consecutive shots after taking the temporary lead. Siakam finished with 20 points, but the Pacers could not close the gap as free-throw disparity became a factor—Philadelphia made 33-of-43 attempts compared to Indiana’s 16-of-19.
George, a former Pacer, also hit a season high after offseason knee surgery, complementing Embiid’s dominant night. Philadelphia’s balance extended beyond scoring as Andre Drummond grabbed nine rebounds and the team forced turnovers at key moments.
The 76ers improved to 14–10 overall, while Indiana dropped to 6–19, continuing a challenging stretch for the defending Eastern Conference champions.
Philadelphia now travels to Atlanta on Sunday, while Indiana hosts Washington in search of a bounce-back performance.
