Pascal Siakam recorded his sixth career triple-double after collecting 26 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists on Thursday, lifting the Indiana Pacers to a 134-122 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers in Indianapolis.
Siakam made 9 of 13 shots from the floor and 7 of 10 free throws while playing in his fourth game with Indiana.
Myles Turner had 20 points and nine rebounds and Andrew Nembhard had 19 points and eight assists for the Pacers, who benefited from seven players scoring in double digits. Aaron Nesmith had 16 points, Bennedict Mathurin and Obi Toppin each added 13 and Buddy Hield had 11 as Indiana defeated Philadelphia for the second time in three meetings this season.
Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, who sat out due to an ailing hamstring, was named as a starter for next month’s NBA All-Star Game in Indianapolis.
Indiana didn’t need Haliburton on Thursday en route to snapping its three-game skid. The Pacers shot 57 percent from the floor and 42.9 percent from 3-point range and held decisive advantages in rebounds (55-31) and points in the paint (68-52).
Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid had 31 points through three quarters before sitting out the fourth, mere hours after he was named to his seventh NBA All-Star Game. The reigning league MVP reached the 30-point plateau in his 22nd consecutive game, one contest after he erupted for a franchise-best 70 in the Sixers’ 133-123 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Monday.
Tyrese Maxey added 22 points for the 76ers, whose six-game winning streak ended while playing without Tobias Harris (illness).
Indiana saw its 17-point lead trimmed to 12 at halftime before it scored the first 10 points in the third quarter to take an 83-61 advantage. Siakam capped the surge with a three-point play.
Turner made a layup to push the Pacers’ lead to 100-73 with 3:54 remaining in the third quarter. Indiana led by 21 at the end of the quarter and 14 with 4:17 left in the fourth before Nembhard sank a 3-pointer to halt the momentum.
Siakam collected eight points and six rebounds to fuel the Pacers to a 34-25 lead despite Embiid scoring 13 points for the 76ers.
–Field Level Media
