Tyrese Maxey scored 32 points as the Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Indiana Pacers 105-94 on Friday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The result snapped Philadelphia’s three-game losing streak while keeping its hold on eighth place in the Eastern Conference.
Paul George added 21 points for the 76ers, providing steady secondary scoring across all four quarters. His shot creation helped Philadelphia maintain control during Indiana’s brief third-quarter surges.
Philadelphia improved to 44-37 and stayed in the final guaranteed playoff position in the East with one game remaining. The team also stabilized its late-game execution after recent close losses.
VJ Edgecombe scored 16 points and Kelly Oubre Jr. contributed 15 points, giving Philadelphia balanced production on the perimeter. Andre Drummond posted a double-double with 10 points and 16 rebounds, anchoring the interior presence.
The 76ers built their advantage through physical scoring inside, finishing with a 64-28 edge in points in the paint. That gap defined the game’s tempo and forced Indiana into contested perimeter looks.
Indiana finished with 21 turnovers, a key factor that limited its half-court rhythm. Philadelphia committed just eight turnovers, maintaining cleaner possessions in transition and set offense.
The Pacers shot 14-of-50 from three-point range, struggling to generate consistent spacing. The 76ers went 5-of-29 from deep but compensated with interior efficiency and free-throw conversion.
Philadelphia led 58-51 at halftime before Indiana briefly stabilized in the third quarter. The Pacers tied the game at 64-all, but the momentum shifted quickly afterward.
The 76ers closed the third quarter on a 25-13 run to take an 89-77 lead. That stretch created separation that Indiana could not recover from in the final period.
Jarace Walker led Indiana with 17 points, followed by Quenton Jackson with 16 and Ethan Thompson with 15. Micah Potter added a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Indiana, now 19-62, continued a difficult season that saw limited roster continuity and defensive inconsistency. The team allowed repeated paint touches that Philadelphia converted efficiently.
Philadelphia also played under challenging circumstances off the court, with Joel Embiid unavailable after undergoing an appendectomy in Houston on Thursday. The team confirmed he was released from the hospital Friday with no timetable set for return.
The Pacers were also without head coach Rick Carlisle for a second straight game. His absence coincided with ongoing rotation adjustments heading into the season finale.
Philadelphia will host Milwaukee on Sunday, while Indiana closes its season at home against Detroit.
