Philadelphia — Joel Embiid put on a show with 30 points, while Tyrese Maxey, a newly named All-Star starter, added 29 points and contributed eight assists and eight steals to lead the 76ers to an 113-104 victory over the Pacers at XFinity Mobile Arena on Monday.

The Pacers endured their second consecutive loss during their five-game road trip, dropping to 10-34, which places them at the bottom of the Eastern Conference. Meanwhile, the 76ers improved their record to 23-18, securing a fifth-place position in the East.

Kelly Oubre Jr. chipped in with 18 points for Philadelphia, while the Pacers’ point guard Andrew Nembhard led his team with 25 points and five assists. However, Nembhard also recorded five turnovers. Pascal Siakam added 24 points, seven assists, and six rebounds, while T.J. McConnell and Jay Huff each scored 10 points.

Three Observations from the Game

Pacers Turnovers Allow Philly to Turn Tight Game into a Blowout

The Pacers showed moments of strong defense throughout the game and had enough quality shooting to stay competitive, even taking a 10-point lead in the second quarter. They held the 76ers to just 17 points in the second quarter, outscored them from beyond the arc, matched them in field goal percentage, and even won the rebounding battle.

However, the Pacers struggled with turnovers all night, and despite these issues, they managed to stay in the game until the fourth quarter. The game was tied at 88 with 9:02 remaining in the fourth quarter, but the 76ers went on a 19-3 run over the next six minutes to take a commanding 107-91 lead with 3:08 left on the clock.

The Pacers committed nine turnovers in the fourth quarter alone, finishing the game with 24 total turnovers. These mistakes translated into 28 points for the 76ers, while Philadelphia only turned the ball over nine times, leading to seven points for the Pacers. Normally, such a disparity would result in a larger margin of victory, but it still proved to be enough for the 76ers to secure the win.

Tony Bradley Slows Down Joel Embiid on Defense

Tony Bradley, who was signed to a second 10-day contract on Monday, reminded everyone why the Pacers continue to keep him around. Jay Huff’s main weakness is his slim frame, which made him a difficult matchup against the 7-foot, 280-pound Joel Embiid.

Huff struggled to contain Embiid in the first quarter, as Embiid went 5 of 5 from the field and scored 10 points. Embiid took advantage of Huff’s attempts to stay low by hitting shots over his head. However, Bradley entered the game in the second quarter and provided a better defensive option against Embiid.

Bradley was able to get in Embiid’s way and maintained a strong defensive presence. In the second quarter, Embiid went scoreless on 0 of 3 shooting, and Bradley was +10 in nearly nine minutes on the floor. He also scored six points on 3 of 4 shooting, including a powerful fast-break dunk. The Pacers won the second quarter 25-17, holding Philadelphia to 5 of 19 shooting and 0.75 points per possession.

Although Embiid eventually got the better of Bradley, Bradley finished the game with eight points on 4 of 5 shooting and seven rebounds. He was +5 in 18 minutes of play.

T.J. McConnell Strong Performance in Return to Philly

T.J. McConnell, who spent his first four professional seasons with the 76ers, has been warmly welcomed back every time the Pacers visit Philadelphia. On Monday night, his contributions were crucial in keeping the Pacers in the game.

McConnell has been consistent this season, showing his ability to handle the ball and create scoring opportunities. He scored 10 points on 5 of 8 shooting, dished out three assists, and had two turnovers. He also managed to record a steal and a blocked shot.

Dustin Dopirak covers the Pacers all season. For more coverage, check out IndyStarTV or the Pacers Insider newsletter.