Sixers blow an early lead, then storm back with big fourth quarter in 114-109 win at the Pacers
The Sixers surrendered a 15-point halftime lead and were outscored 36-13 in the third quarter, but Tyrese Maxey's big fourth quarter helped surged them to a win after a topsy-turvy second half.
INDIANAPOLIS — Prior to the 76ers’ Wednesday matchup at the Pacers, coach Nick Nurse spoke about his revamped roster not only stringing together longer periods of good minutes, but limiting stretches of bad ones.
The Sixers provided both in a topsy-turvy second half. They surrendered 17 consecutive points to begin a brutal third quarter, then stormed back in a dominant final period to win 114-109 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
First came Indiana’s surge out of the locker room, flipping what was a 15-point first-half deficit into a lead that eventually grew to 88-75 at the end of the third quarter. The Pacers outscored the Sixers, 36-13, in that period.
» READ MORE: Anfernee Simons is off to a slow start with the Sixers, but he’s confident shots will fall soon
Then came the Sixers’ counter in the final period, fueled by a 24-6 run. A Tyrese Maxey (27 points) driving finish tied the game at 94 with less than six minutes remaining, before Maxey’s two free throws and an old-fashioned three-point play by VJ Edgecombe created a 99-94 advantage. The Sixers never relinquished the lead again, with Maxey drilling two three-pointers in the final two minutes to clinch the victory.
The game went down to the wire despite Indiana playing without star point guard Tyrese Haliburton, who was out with a mild hamstring strain, and starting center Ivica Zubac, who missed the game with an ankle sprain.
The Sixers (4-1) will next host the New York Knicks Friday night in their first NBA Cup group play game.
Before the lull, a better start
Nurse was curious to see how his team would start the game, after digging big holes against the Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons during the season’s first week.
The first-quarter results were mixed, netting a 25-25 tie. The Sixers got nothing in the paint for about half the period, instead primarily needing long-range jumpers to keep pace while totaling nearly as many turnover (seven) as made field goals (nine).
Ball movement improved for the Sixers in the second quarter, helping them build that 15-point lead. The defense also held strong throughout the half, holding the Pacers to 39% shooting and 6-of-20 from three-point range at the break.
Then, the third quarter happened. And then the fourth.
In the middle
Joel Embiid finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds. But the Sixers’ center spot outside of the former MVP remains in flux, with Jabari Walker (knee), Dominick Barlow (back), and Tacko Fall (quadriceps) still sidelined with injuries.
» READ MORE: Sixers looking to improve their rebounding amid frontcourt injuries: ‘We gotta hit, box out, try to fight’
After Embiid picked up two first-quarter fouls, Adem Bona initially replaced him. But he lasted less than two minutes before also being whistled twice, shifting the Sixers into a small-ball look with Dean Wade in the middle. They then began the second period with Wade and LeBron James in the frontcourt before Embiid returned.
Bona reentered for another brief third-quarter stint, before Embiid logged the minutes down the stretch.
Simons’ spark
After starting the season 5-of-21 from long range, Simons snapped out of his slump in a big way by going 7-of-11 for 20 points.
He hit two on back-to-back possessions late in the first quarter, helping the Sixers increase their lead to 22-17. He sank two more in the second, including one that drew a grin from Simons after it bounced around the rim and through the net.
Simons buried two more deep shots in the fourth, helping the Sixers get back within striking distance.
Hello again, Kelly Oubre Jr.
With Haliburton sidelined, former Sixer Kelly Oubre Jr. (15 points) moved into Indiana’s starting lineup to face his former team for the first time.
Oubre, who rebuilt his NBA career by averaging 14.9 points and 5.4 rebounds in three seasons with the Sixers, waved at the visitors’ bench before tipoff. He drew an early offensive foul on Maxey, and responded with his quintessential point toward the Pacers’ end of the court.
Then Oubre blew a kiss after his first three-pointer to give Indiana a 28-27 lead in the second quarter. In the third, got into the lane for a finish early and converted a transition bucket to push the Pacers’ advantage to 69-62. He waved a finger at Embiid when he got fouled by the Sixers’ big man underneath the basket in the fourth quarter. And Oubre also spent portions of the game guarding Jaylen Brown and Edgecombe.
Beat reporters Gina Mizell and Chris Hine break down their most intriguing quotes from LeBron James and Tyrese Maxey during the preseason, along with what they most hope to learn about this revamped roster during the first month of the season. Watch here.
Watch the full interview below and subscribe to the Sixers Extra podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
