76ers-Pacers Takeaways: Tyrese Maxey Shines as Philadelphia Secures First Win of the Season
The Philadelphia 76ers secured their first win of the season in an intense 118-114 overtime match against the Indiana Pacers. Tyrese Maxey delivered a standout performance, netting 45 points, while Andre Drummond dominated on the boards. For Indiana, the game highlighted a few weaknesses as they fell short in a close contest. Here are the top takeaways.
1. Game Spirals in Final Minutes For much of the game, it was a tight, controlled battle between two Eastern Conference contenders. But in the final two minutes of regulation and overtime, the match took a chaotic turn. Three challenges went Indiana’s way, Sixers coach Nick Nurse received a technical foul, and the game extended by a lengthy 60 minutes. Key moments included Tyrese Haliburton’s attempt to send the game into a second OT—though he missed critical free throws, ultimately sealing Indiana’s loss.
2. Tyrese Maxey’s Breakout Performance Maxey, after struggling in his first two games, turned it around in style. His 45-point explosion, with 38 of those points coming in the second half and overtime, carried Philadelphia to victory. Maxey’s resilience earned praise from teammates, with Eric Gordon noting, “When he gets going, he’s a mega-problem.” The 76ers relied on Maxey to shoulder the scoring load in Embiid’s absence, and he delivered, silencing Indiana’s home crowd with his relentless drive.
3. Haliburton’s Struggles Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton had his moments, particularly with a slick move past Philadelphia’s Kyle Lowry to score a three. But inconsistency plagued him, particularly from the free-throw line, where he missed crucial shots. His final stats—4-for-9 shooting inside the arc and from beyond it—left Indiana nine points worse in the minutes he played, showing the young star’s need to refine his game under pressure.
4. Philadelphia Tightening Up, Indiana Falling Short Philadelphia anticipates the return of Joel Embiid and Paul George soon, while Indiana faces a different challenge. With a fully healthy roster, coach Rick Carlisle experimented with rotations, but the team struggled on the glass, being outrebounded 54-37. Philadelphia capitalized with 20 offensive rebounds, exposing Indiana’s weakness in protecting the boards.
5. Andre Drummond’s Dominance Philadelphia’s backup center Andre Drummond, filling in for Embiid, grabbed 17 rebounds, reinforcing his reputation as a top rebounder. Drummond’s presence on the boards gave the Sixers a physical edge, translating into 25 second-chance points—something Indiana couldn’t overcome.
In a high-energy showdown, Philadelphia demonstrated resilience, fueled by Maxey’s big night and Drummond’s rebounding, while Indiana left with valuable lessons on where improvement is needed.
