Ailing Embiid leads 76ers past Pacers

[January 18, 2019]  Joel Embiid had 22 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists to lift the Philadelphia 76ers past the Indiana Pacers 120-96 on Thursday in Indianapolis.

Embiid, who was questionable before the game with a sore lower back, recorded his 38th double-double and his 12th in the past 13 games. Throughout the game, Embiid appeared to be wincing and holding his lower back.

Jimmy Butler scored 27 points and JJ Redick added 20, highlighted by six 3-pointers. It was Redick's seventh game this season with at least five 3-pointers. Mike Muscala also contributed 11 while Ben Simmons had 11 points, eight rebounds and eight assists.

The Sixers were 18 of 34 from 3-point territory while earning their third win in a row and their seventh in nine games.

Thaddeus Young led the Pacers with 27 points while Victor Oladipo added 15 on 6-of-20 shooting. Tyreke Evans had 13 points, and Myles Turner chipped in with 12 rebounds. The Pacers had their four-game home winning streak snapped.

The Sixers led 28-25 after the first quarter thanks in large part to nine points from Butler.

Oladipo struggled mightily in the first, going 0-for-7 from the field.

Oladipo finally made his first basket, a 3-pointer, with 2:45 left in the second to get the Pacers within 46-43.

Philadelphia held a 54-48 advantage at halftime as Butler compiled 13 points in 17 minutes.

Redick worked around a pick by Embiid and hit a trey to put the Sixers up 66-55 with 8:04 remaining in the third. By the end of the quarter, the Sixers ran off seven straight and led 86-71.

The Sixers turned the ball over on four consecutive possessions early in the fourth but still held a 91-79 lead.

76ers forward Jimmy Butler (23) smiles after a call by an official against the Indiana Pacers during the third quarter at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

After Evans hit a driving layup to get Indiana within 91-81, Sixers head coach Brett Brown call for a timeout with 8:21 left to slow the momentum.

Muscala hit a couple of 3-pointers, and the Sixers extended their advantage to 100-85 with 5:53 remaining.
 

The Sixers kept the defensive pressure on and cruised the rest of the way.

--Field Level Media

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