INDIANA BLOWS LATE LEAD DROPS GAME TO SIXERS
(PACERS RELEASE)
The undermanned Pacers gave the star-studded Philadelphia 76ers all they could handle on Wednesday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Indiana erased a double-digit deficit with a dominant third quarter and took a 13-point lead into the fourth quarter.
But Tyrese Maxey scored 17 of Philadelphia’s 39 points in the final frame as the Sixers (4-1) rallied to beat the Pacers (2-3), 114-109.
The Pacers had just nine players on standard contracts and their three two-way players available on Wednesday. Head coach Rick Carlisle announced before the game that All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton will be out at least a couple weeks with a “mild” left hamstring strain. Starting center Ivica Zubac missed his second straight game with a sprained ankle, T.J. McConnell (hamstring) and Johnny Furphy (knee) have yet to play this season, and Ben Sheppard underwent surgery on Wednesday in New York to repair a torn meniscus.
Wednesday’s game was a back-and-forth affair. The Sixers led by as many as 15 points in the second quarter, but the Pacers outscored Philadelphia 36-13 in the third quarter to open up an 88-75 lead.
The visitors came charging back in the fourth quarter, retaking the lead with 5:13 remaining.
Andrew Nembhard’s jumper with 3:07 to play cut Philadelphia’s lead to 101-100, but Joel Embiid answered with a basket on the other end. Tyrese Maxey then stole the ball from Pascal Siakam and was fouled with 2:20 left. The two-time All-Star made both free throws to make it a two-possession game.
Siakam attoned with a step-back jumper. Maxey once again drew a foul and headed to the line with 1:42 left, this time making one of two shots. Obi Toppin then posted up for a bucket that trimmed the Sixers’ lead to 106-104, but Maxey drilled a stepback three on the other end.
Nembhard was fouled and made both free throws with 1:04 remaining before Maxey hit another three to essentially seal the victory for the Sixers.
Siakam led Indiana with 26 points on 11-of-17 shooting and 11 rebounds in the loss. Nembhard had a double-double with 18 points and 14 assists, while Aaron Nesmith scored 18.
Maxey led the Sixers with 27 points and was one of four players to surpass 20 points for Philadelphia. Embiid (21 points and 11 rebounds) and Jaylen Brown (20 points and 10 rebounds) each recorded double-doubles for the Sixers, while Anfernee Simons scored 20 points and went 6-for-10 from 3-point range.
Neither team created much separation in a low-scoring first quarter. Simons made back-to-back threes during an 8-0 Sixers run that put them up 22-17, but the Pacers closed the opening frame with an 8-3 spurt to tie the game at 25.
The visitors quickly built a lead early in the second quarter. Simons made two more threes and LeBron James hit a mid-range jumper during another 8-0 run by Philadelphia. Brown scored 11 points in the quarter and Embiid added eight as the Sixers stretched their lead as high as 15 points.
Obi Toppin did his best to keep Indiana within striking distance, scoring 10 points in the second quarter. But the Pacers struggled from the field in the first half, shooting 38.6 percent as a team.
Indiana did close the half with eight straight points — including threes from Siakam and Nesmith — to get back within seven. But VJ Edgecombe swished a halfcourt shot at the buzzer to push Philadelphia’s lead back to double digits at 65-52 heading into the intermission.
The Blue & Gold came out with a purpose to start the second half, attacking the rim early and often out of the break. The hosts reeled off 10 quick points to open the quarter, tying the score at 62 on Siakam’s layup at 9:00 that forced a Sixers timeout.
The run continued after the stoppage, with Nembhard burying a three and then Siakam and Kelly Oubre Jr. scoring in transition to cap a 17-0 run. Philadelphia, meanwhile, missed nine straight shots and committed two turnovers to open the third quarter, not scoring its first points until James made a three from the left wing with 6:05 remaining in the frame.
A subsequent three from Maxey briefly cut Indiana’s lead down to one point, but the Pacers responded with a 13-2 run — with six points in that stretch coming from Nesmith — to go up 82-70.
By the time the quarter ended, Indiana had stretched the margin to 88-75.
“Our third quarter was inspirational,” Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said. “Our crowd got into it. It was great. It was a shame that we couldn’t keep the momentum going into the fourth. But when you’re in this situation personnel-wise, every little detail matters.”
The Sixers mounted a charge in the fourth quarter. Two threes from Simons, another from James, and a three-point play from Embiid whittled the Pacers’ lead down to 92-90 with over seven minutes to play.
Philadelphia tied the game at 94 on Maxey’s layup with 5:38 remaining, then retook the lead when Maxey drew a foul on Siakam and made both free throws 23 seconds later. The Sixers did not relinquish the lead again.
Oubre had 15 points for Indiana in the loss, while Toppin tallied 13 points and six rebounds off the bench.
41-year-old James had a double-double for Philadelphia, finishing with 13 points, five rebounds, and 10 assists.
The Pacers will head to Miami to face the Heat in an NBA Cup game on Friday night before returning to Gainbridge Fieldhouse for back-to-back games against Brooklyn and Atlanta on Sunday and Monday, respectively.
Inside the Numbers
Siakam recorded his second straight double-double and has scored 20 or more points in all five games this season.
Nembhard had a double-double for the first time this season. His 14 assists are tied for his fourth-highest total in a game in his career.
Toppin has scored in double figures off the bench in all five games this season.
The Pacers shot just 9-for-36 from 3-point range (25 percent), while the Sixers went 13-for-36 (36.1 percent) from beyond the arc.
Indiana had 15 turnovers, but Philadelphia converted them into 26 points.
You Can Quote Me On That
“I thought we battled the whole way. Fourth quarter was tough. You’ve got to be so precise with everything that you’re doing with the guys that they have out there or else they take advantage of minute cracks in your defense or the tiniest mistakes.” —Carlisle on Wednesday’s game
“It was good effort. I thought we played a little bit better, with more force in the second half. We’re able to get some stops and get the crowd into it, play the way we want to play. Obviously they’re a very talented team, so they made some tough shots down the stretch. And we were not able to close it out.” —Siakam
“I think regardless of who’s in the game, we’re known for playing hard, playing together. That’s our recipe for success.” —Nembhard on the keys to the Pacers finding success amidst so many early-season injuries
“He’s a great player. His versatility is really special. He’s terrific as an off guard that can make plays, but he’s obviously a point guard, a natural point guard. He’s had a lot of opportunities to show that, obviously last year with Ty being out and tonight.” —Carlisle on Nembhard
“I thought he did well. Just continued to put us in position to be successful…His force downhill, he’s got to keep that going. And also today he had to guard Maxey. He has a lot on him and I think he’s handling it well.” —Siakam on Nembhard taking on more responsibility with Haliburton out
“He’s going to continue to get better. I know what it feels like coming into a team like this. You have to figure it out. As long as your heart and everything is in the right place and you play the right way, you’re going to be okay. I think he’s doing a pretty good job…Sometimes there’s going to be some nights where you’re going to score the ball and there’s going to be some nights that you might not. The focus should just be on continuing to play the right way. I think when you do that on this team, you continue to have success.” —Siakam on Oubre
Stat of the Night
Wednesday’s game was a tale of two quarters. Indiana outscored Philadelphia 36-13 in the third quarter only for the Sixers to flip the script and outscore the Pacers 39-21 in the fourth.
Noteworthy
The Sixers have won five straight games against the Pacers.
The Pacers will face the Sixers three times in their first 19 games this season. Indiana visits Philadelphia on Nov. 15 and then hosts the 76ers for an NBA Cup game on Nov. 27. The two teams will meet for a fourth and final time in Philadelphia on Jan. 19.
Pacers rookie two-way guard Braden Smith played 5:08 in the first half, his most extended action in his young career. He recorded one assist.
Indiana Fever All-Star guard Caitlin Clark attended Wednesday’s game.
Carlisle told media he will miss Friday’s game in Miami to attend the memorial service for his late father, Preston C. Carlisle, who passed away on Oct. 4 at the age of 96.
Up Next
Indiana will travel to Miami to take on Giannis Antetkounmpo and the Heat in an NBA Cup game on Friday, Oct. 30 at 8:00 PM ET.
Tickets
The Pacers will host Julius Randle and the Brooklyn Nets at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Sunday, Nov. 1 at 5:00 PM ET.
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Pascal Siakam and Andrew Nembhard are invaluable to the Indiana Pacers. When Indiana was down to just 12 available players on Wednesday, Siakam and Nembhard were critical to maintaining poise. With LeBron James and the Philadelphia 76ers in town, they carried that responsibility through four quarters of razor-thin margins.
Siakam scored or assisted on nine of Indiana’s first 12 points as the shorthanded Pacers kept up with the 76ers. Without Tyrese Haliburton (hamstring) or T.J. McConnell (hamstring), Indiana was in a significant playmaking hole. Siakam’s early offense remedied that.
He opened the scoring with a couple close shots to shrink the defense, then when he found himself the center of attention for a third possession, he zipped a pass to Jay Huff in the corner. Huff knocked down a triple to put the Pacers up, 7-6.
Nembhard’s impact was less immediate, but just as potent. Nembhard struggled from the field, and finished the first half 0-for-6. He still managed five points and nine assists, however, and made a play at the end of the first quarter to knot up the game heading into the second.
Nembhard flew down the court on a fast break, and took contact from Philadelphia’s Jaylen Brown at the rim. He converted two free throws to level the Pacers with the 76ers, 25-25, to end the first quarter.
“He’s a great player,” coach Rick Carlisle said of Nembhard postgame. “And his versatility is really special, you know. He’s terrific as an off guard that can make plays, but he’s obviously a point guard, a natural point guard, so he’s had a lot of opportunities to show that.”
Nembhard’s first field goal finally came in the third quarter after he danced around Tyrese Maxey, eventually fading at the elbow and knocking down the jumper. His first 3-pointer fell just two possessions later – Siakam tied the game at 62 with a spin move in between – to give Indiana a 3-point lead on the 76ers, 65-62, with just over eight minutes left in the third quarter.
That sequence contributed to a 17-0 Pacers run to open the third quarter. Indiana held the 76ers scoreless through the first 5:55 of the third period, and finished the quarter ahead of Philadelphia, 88-75. Siakam and Nembhard combined to score 17 points on 7-for-12 shooting in the frame.
“Our third quarter was inspirational,” Carlisle said. “Our crowd got into it, it was great. It was a shame that we couldn’t keep the momentum going a little more into the fourth, but you know, when you’re in this kind of situation personnel-wise, every every little detail matters, and we’ve got to be as tight and tied together as we can be.”
A lull in scoring to start the fourth quarter had Indiana trailing Philadelphia by two points entering the final five minutes. The Pacers scored 15 points in the final five minutes of play, and Nembhard and Siakam combined to score 10 of them.
The 76ers held on to best the Pacers, 114-109, despite a pair of double-doubles from Nembhard and Siakam. Nembhard recorded 18 points, three rebounds, and 14 assists next to Siakam’s 26 points, 11 rebounds, and three assists. Siakam recorded his fifth straight 20-point game of the season, and Nembhard recorded his first double-double of the season.
The margins were tight for the 12 Pacers that suited up on Wednesday. They’ll continue to be slim as Indiana navigates injuries to key rotational players early in the season, but the remaining Pacers are committed to meeting those sky-high standards.
“We’ve got to play together,” Siakam said. “We got to play hard. If there’s one thing we can do, we’ve got to do, it’s play hard…It’s just gonna have to be about playing hard, [and] giving it your all when your name is called.”
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