Indiana offered itself a nice revenge against Philadelphia, two days after suffering a setback marked by Tyrese Maxey’s 50 points. This time, the Pacers held on until the end to bring down the leader of the Eastern Conference, undefeated for eight matches. With 33 points from Tyrese Haliburton, 27 from Obi Toppin but also 17 from Myles Turner, heroic at the end against a still monumental Joel Embiid (39 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists).
Rick Carlisle’s men once again challenged the Sixers by starting strong, led by an aggressive and efficient Obi Toppin (6-14). Joel Embiid began his demolition business facing each of the interiors that presented themselves in front of him, including Myles Turner, quickly sent to the bench for two fouls, before Jalen Smith and Isaiah Jackson suffered the same fate.
After a nice spin move inside, the Philly pivot then allowed his team to regain the lead, helped by two 3-point baskets from De’Anthony Melton (22-21), until Tyrese Haliburton’s 4/4 3-pointer revives Indiana (26-34). It was then necessary to resist the rise in temperature from Tyrese Maxey, this time with the Haliburton-Mathurin tandem on all fronts in order to preserve the gap (41-48).
Indiana lucid to the end
While the Sixers were suddenly no longer able to find Joel Embiid, Indiana took the opportunity to add to the score, again thanks to his outside skill. After Aaron Nesmith, Tyrese Haliburton scored his 6th 3-point basket of the evening to contribute to the 9 point lead preserved by the Pacers at the break (54-63).
The locals were patient with the brilliance of Obi Toppin, TJ McConnell and company before finally managing to get back into the game. Joel Embiid was still able to count on an incisive De’Anthony Melton to support him in scoring and equalize at 94-94 just before the start of the fourth quarter.
Tyrese Maxey resurfaced at the best moment with a 3-pointer, two shots and a left-handed dunk to put Philly in the lead and lift the Wells Fargo Center (105-104). But here again, Indiana held on, this time relying on an unstoppable Myles Turner (15 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter) and a Tyrese Haliburton also there, passing or scoring. It was he who sealed the suspense with a final 3-point basket (118-127), to ensure a 132 to 126 victory at the finish.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– When Tyrese responds to Tyrese. We had Tyrese Maxey’s 50 points two days earlier in a resounding victory for Philly over the Pacers who had not given up. Last night we had a Tyrese Haliburton close to perfection to respond with a real festival, between his 33 points at 7/12 from afar and 15 assists including numerous caviars, like on his alley-oop at the very end of match for Obi Toppin. Very high level.
– Obi Toppin in top form. Position 4 had its best match so far under its new colors with activity, aggressiveness and efficiency which were rewarded by 27 points at 12/15 shooting. He was the
– Tobias Harris, The Iron Man. The Sixers thought they lost Tobias Harris ten minutes from the end of the match on an unusual action. Author of a good match so far, the winger saw Bruce Brown fall on him with all his weight, taking his head and neck. Staying on the ground for a long time, he finally made his way to the locker room, only to return to the floor a minute later! He then reassured everyone with an isolated basket from mid-distance. His return, however, was not enough to reverse the trend.
– Nicolas Batum absent. Holder in the previous match against Indiana, the Frenchman was this time absent for Act II, absent for personal reasons. Philly suffered even though Nicolas Batum had only just arrived.
How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
