/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/pmn/TWFY24EP25AEXKMBPLE7JEEZIY.jpg "Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and the Sixers dominate the Indiana Pacers, push streak to eight games")
INDIANAPOLIS — Joel Embiid briefly regarded like he would return to the ground, when he acquired a substitute 76ers jersey from an gear staffer throughout a timeout with lower than six minutes remaining towards the Indiana Pacers.
The wardrobe change was pointless. Backup heart Paul Reed completed inside. Tobias Harris hit a tricky turnaround jumper on the finish of the shot clock. Then Reed threw down a fastbreak alley-oop off a feed from Shake Milton to propel the Sixers to a 22-point cushion — and hold their MVP contender fortunately locked to his seat on the bench.
That sequence completed off the most recent Sixers romp, this by a 141-121 rating with out starters James Harden and P.J. Tucker Saturday evening at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, to clinch their eighth consecutive victory.
“I used to be actually involved, simply with fatigue,” mentioned coach Doc Rivers, a reference to the Sixers enjoying on the second evening of a back-to-back and their eighth street recreation this month. “ … This was a tricky one. [I] was actually blissful. Everyone contributed.”
The successful streak matches the longest of the season for the surging Sixers (48-22), who’ve brilliantly navigated what gave the impression to be a frightening March stuffed with 12 street video games and three back-to-backs units. And it helps them hold tempo within the Japanese Convention playoff standings, no less than briefly transferring inside a half-game of the second-place Boston Celtics, who go to the Utah Jazz later Saturday.
» READ MORE: The Sixers are chasing free-throw historical past — and utilizing it as an offensive weapon
Although Saturday was not a precise repeat of the defense-optional barnburner these groups performed on March 6 — no less than partially as a result of offensive orchestrators Harden and Tyrese Haliburton, who rank 1-2 within the NBA in assists, missed the sport — the Sixers nonetheless shot 61.4% from the ground (together with a 15-of-25 mark from three-point distance), dedicated solely seven turnovers and topped 140 factors for the second consecutive towards the Pacers. With out Harden, they utilized Embiid as a facilitator in the midst of the ground, producing a bevy of open photographs with swift ball motion and sharp decision-making.
“Generally basketball isn’t onerous once you simply go to the open man,” mentioned Rivers, who estimated Embiid completed with 15 second-pass “hockey assists” that resulted in buckets. “We’ve a man in Joel who they’re double-teaming, so that you simply hold transferring the ball and discover the open man.”
Added Embiid: “I really feel like, if I wished to be a playmaker, I may very well be. However I don’t must, as a result of I’ve received the very best playmaker within the league. Within the video games that he doesn’t play, I tackle that position and it’s enjoyable. It’s getting the blokes the ball in the best spots. It’s transferring the ball, and having the ball in my fingers and simply sharing it.”
After main, 82-61, on the half, the Sixers prolonged that benefit to 99-82 on a Tobias Harris three-pointer on the 4:07 mark of the third quarter. They led by as many as 24 within the ultimate interval.
Embiid put collectively one other methodically dominant efficiency, with 31 factors on 10-of-15 taking pictures, seven rebounds, and 7 assists in half-hour. Tyrese Maxey scored 22 of his 31 factors within the first half on a blistering 9-of-11 from the ground, and likewise completed with seven assists and 0 turnovers. Harris added 24 factors, 5 rebounds and 4 assists, whereas De’Anthony Melton stuffed the field rating with 14 factors, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 6 steals in his return to the beginning lineup.
The Sixers briefly return dwelling to face the Chicago Bulls on Monday, earlier than hitting the street once more to tackle the Bulls (Wednesday), Golden State Warriors (Friday), Phoenix Suns (March 25), and Denver Nuggets (March 27).
“It’s not over,” Embiid mentioned. “We’ve received a protracted strategy to go … but it surely’s enjoyable to win.”
Mad Maxey
Maybe Maxey ought to contemplate investing in some property in Indianapolis. As a result of he treats Gainbridge Fieldhouse like a second dwelling gymnasium.
Maxey’s newest outburst right here got here after he scored 24 factors on 6-of-9 from three-point vary on March 6, and totaled 30 factors on 8-of-11 lengthy vary on April 5.
“It’s near Kentucky,” Maxey joked when requested why he finds a lot success enjoying in Indianapolis.
He linked on 5 of his 9 deep makes an attempt Saturday, however was a very harmful driver early within the recreation. He completed a number of photographs excessive off the glass. Or via contact. Or whereas watching the ball spin in.
Maxey acknowledged his method adjustments when Harden doesn’t play, as a result of it makes him into “extra of a playmaker or play-starter.” And after he didn’t document an help within the first half, Maxey received a problem from the NBA’s chief in that class on the break.
“[Harden] was messing with me on the finish of the primary half,” Maxey mentioned. “He mentioned, ‘Bro, you bought zero assists. What are you doing?’ I informed him I’ll get 5 – 6 no less than, and I ended up getting seven. However I simply tried to be aggressive, assist the massive fella [Embiid] and assist our teammates get open photographs.”
Maxey’s efficiency was his sixth 30-point recreation of the season, and his first since a Jan. 21 win on the Sacramento Kings (a recreation Harden additionally missed).
Home begins, McDaniels returns
With Tucker out, Danuel Home Jr. made his third begin of the season and completed with three factors in 19 minutes.
His three-pointer helped ignite the offense after falling behind, 12-4 early within the recreation. However his spotlight play, an explosive one-handed dunk, was known as an offensive foul. The Sixers’ bench was not happy, with Georges Niang flashing a thumbs down signal.
“He’s wholesome, and he’s obtainable,” Rivers mentioned of the choice to begin Home. “However extra importantly, he’s skilled. D. Home has been completely fantastic for this basketball staff, as a result of when he doesn’t play, he’s concerned. When he performs, he performs the best approach.
“He performs onerous. He competes. He’s the proper teammate. He actually has been. I’m very happy with him.”
Reserve wing Jalen McDaniels (seven factors in 16 minutes) additionally returned from a two-game absence with a hip bruise however gave the impression to be laboring, notably whereas guarding and altering course on protection.
That prevented him from repeating his finest efficiency as far as a Sixer, when he amassed 20 factors and eight rebounds within the March 6 win. But he made a pair key photographs within the ultimate interval, rattling dwelling a jumper and changing an old school three-point play to provide the Sixers a 114-95 lead with lower than 10 minutes to go.
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