76ers defeat Pacers 106-89

Joel Embiid returned from an eight-game absence to score 33 points and grab 12 rebounds as the host Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Indiana Pacers 106-89 on Sunday. Embiid had been out with a sore left knee but came back to post his league-best 49th double-double of the season as the Sixers snapped a two-game losing streak.

Tobias Harris added 16 points and Ben Simmons had 15. With the win, the Sixers moved into third place in the Eastern Conference, holding a tiebreaker over the Pacers.

Bojan Bogdanovic led the Pacers with 18 points while Darren Collison added 14. Domantas Sabonis returned after missing the last five games with a sprained left ankle. Sabonis had nine points, six rebounds and six assists.

The Pacers built a 49-35 lead, but the Sixers chipped away. When Redick knocked down a 3-pointer from the wing, the Sixers sliced the lead to 54-49 with 1:21 left in the first half. Bogdanovic responded with a pair of free throws and a deep trey from the top of the key for a 59-51 halftime advantage thanks in large part to his 15 points.

Harris paced the Sixers with 12 in the opening two quarters. Simmons had 10 and Embiid added nine but looked rusty as he picked up three early fouls. The Pacers went cold late in the third and missed 12 consecutive shots at one point.

As a result, the Sixers were able to nip at Indiana's lead and get within 70-69 with 3:16 remaining. After several empty possessions by both teams, the Sixers pulled ahead 72-70 at the end of the quarter and then scored the first eight points of the fourth for an 80-70 advantage. After the Pacers' cold streak from the field finally ended at 16 straight misses when Doug McDermott finally snapped the skid with a reverse layup to close within 80-72.

When James Ennis drained a 3-pointer from the corner midway through the final quarter, the Sixers extended their lead to 90-77. It was more than enough of a cushion to propel the Sixers to a home victory.

 

(With inputs from agencies.)