Philadelphia 76ers vs. Indiana Pacers: The Big Fella Is Back (And Tyrese Maxey Approved)
Let’s be real for a second: Philadelphia sports fans don’t ask for much. Just a championship, a dynasty, and for their star players to actually be on the court at the same time. Too much? Maybe. But on Friday night, even without Tyrese Maxey (sidelined with an illness), the basketball gods threw Philly a bone. The Sixers didn’t just beat the Indiana Pacers 115-105; they looked like a team that remembered they’re supposed to be good.
The headline? Joel Embiid. The subplot? The kids are alright. Here’s what went down at the Wells Fargo Center.
The Return Of “The Process”
If you’ve been holding your breath waiting for the MVP version of Joel Embiid to walk through that door, you can finally exhale. After weeks of questions about his knee, his conditioning, and whether he can still dominate, the big fella dropped 39 points like he was just clearing his throat.
We’re talking 12-of-23 shooting, 9 boards, and getting to the charity stripe at will. But it wasn’t just the stats. It was the way he played. He was attacking the rim, bullying defenders in the post, and yes, talking that trash. It felt like watching an old favorite movie you haven’t seen in years—you forgot how good the best scenes were.
“Without Tyrese, I just had to do a little bit more than usual,” Embiid said post-game. “Just working every day and trying to get back in a rhythm.”
Even Maxey, watching from his couch, had to hype it up on Instagram. And honestly, Embiid doing this for Maxey adds a nice layer of bromance to the whole thing. “I called him after the game to check on him,” Embiid said. “The game would’ve been much easier if he played. He’s that good.”
VJ Edgecombe: Not Just a Rookie
With Maxey out, someone had to fill the void in the backcourt for the Sixers. Enter VJ Edgecombe. You usually expect rookies to look a little deer-in-headlights when thrust into a bigger role, but Edgecombe apparently didn’t get the memo.
He dropped 22 points and dished 5 assists, but it was his first quarter that set the tone. He poured in 14 points right out of the gate, basically telling the Pacers, “Yeah, Maxey’s out, but you still have to deal with me.” He shot 6-for-10 from the floor, hit his free throws, and—crucially—didn’t turn the ball over once. Not once.
Coach Nick Nurse was practically beaming. “I love the pull-up 3s in transition. That just shows how confident he’s playing,” Nurse said. When the rookie is pulling up from deep on the break and the coach loves it? That’s a dangerous weapon.
Paul George Playing Point-Forward
Paul George is the luxury item the Sixers bought to push them over the top, and Friday showed why. He didn’t just score (23 points, 4-for-7 from deep); he ran the offense. With no Maxey, PG-13 shifted into a facilitator role, racking up five assists and grabbing six rebounds.
Sure, there were four turnovers, but you live with that when the offense looks this smooth. He settled things down when the Pacers tried to make a run and hit big buckets when the shot clock dwindled. “He’s an experienced player,” Nurse noted. “It just comes down to making the right read.”
The Locker Room Vibes Are High
The best part of the night might not have been the score, but the reaction from the locker room. Everyone knows what Embiid has been through to get back on the court.
“He sold on the 40 points that I’m gonna consistently remind him about,” Edgecombe joked, before getting serious. “He’s showing y’all that ain’t nothing’s wrong with the basketball. The only thing is health… He’s still an MVP-caliber player.”
Paul George backed that up, reminding everyone that we don’t see the grind behind the scenes. “People don’t understand how much work he does… doing whatever it takes to get on the floor.”
Friday wasn’t just a win in the standings for the Sixers; it was a statement. The Sixers have weapons, the rookie is legit, and the big man? Yeah, he’s still got it. Next up: Atlanta. Let’s see if they can keep the momentum rolling.
