Philadelphia 76ers leaned on their star duo late as Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey combined for 59 points in a 113-104 win over the Indiana Pacers on Monday night.
Embiid finished with 30 points and nine rebounds, while Maxey added 29 points, eight assists, and eight steals at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Maxey’s performance came hours after he was named an All-Star starter for the first time, a milestone he reached while averaging 30.3 points entering the night.
The guard shot 12-of-24 from the field and controlled the game defensively, disrupting Indiana’s ball handlers with constant pressure.
Kelly Oubre Jr. scored 18 points, and all five Philadelphia starters reached double figures, helping offset a sluggish start.
The 76ers trailed a 10-win Indiana squad at halftime and led only 82-81 after three quarters, struggling to generate separation for most of the night.
Philadelphia shot 48 percent overall but made just five 3-pointers, relying instead on free throws and interior scoring to close the game.
Embiid created that cushion late, scoring through double teams and drawing fouls as Maxey watched from the bench after being subbed out for good.
The All-Star guard received a loud ovation as he checked out, capping a night that blended recognition with production.
Indiana was led by Andrew Nembhard with 25 points, while Pascal Siakam added 24.
The Pacers shot 48 percent from the floor and 38 percent from three but struggled with turnovers and late-game execution.
The loss marked Indiana’s third in four games after a modest three-game win streak.
The victory improved Philadelphia to 23-18, keeping the club firmly in the Eastern Conference playoff mix.
Indiana fell to 10-34 and will continue its road trip Wednesday in Boston, while the 76ers host Phoenix on Tuesday.
