Tyrese Maxey scored 45 points, including 10 in overtime, and the Philadelphia 76ers completed a late rally to score their first win of the season with a 118-114 defeat of the Indiana Pacers on Sunday in Indianapolis.
Maxey’s extra-period flourish began with a deep, step-back 3-pointer for the first points of overtime. His attack of the rim with 21 seconds remaining produced a goaltending violation and extended a one-point Sixers lead to an invaluable three-point cushion.
Maxey was whistled for a foul on Andrew Nembhard’s shot at the rim on the ensuing Indiana possession. But Nembhard only made one of two free throws, and Philadelphia was able to hold on from there. Maxey added four rebounds and four assists on his day.
While Maxey shined in the clutch, getting to overtime was a total team effort for Philadelphia. The Sixers fell behind 102-97 with 93 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter after a Nembhard jumper.
Kelly Oubre Jr.’s response on the other end ignited an 8-0 Sixers run, however, which included Eric Gordon blocking a shot and Andre Drummond coming up with two steals.
Indiana only averted total disaster at the end of regulation when Tyrese Haliburton buried one of his four made 3-pointers just before the buzzer to force overtime. Haliburton scored a team-high 22 points, but uncharacteristically committed more turnovers (three) than he had assists (two).
Caleb Martin scored 17 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for Philadelphia. Drummond added 17 rebounds, nine points and a pair of steals. Gordon notched 15 points and Oubre had 14.
Pascal Siakam scored 17 points for Indiana. Obi Toppin added 15 points off the bench. Myles Turner had 14 and Aaron Nesmith, T.J. McConnell and Nembhard all chipped in 10.
Both teams struggled with some sloppy offensive play, committing 20 turnovers apiece. The miscues that ultimately cost Indiana came at the free-throw line, however, when Haliburton missed a pair of foul shots with five seconds left in overtime that would have tied the game.
Indiana went 23-of-34 at the charity stripe as a team. Philadelphia was 23-of-31. The Sixers outrebounded the Pacers 54-37, leading to 14 more field-goal attempts.
