Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid, left, drives to the basket against Indiana Pacers’ Myles Turner, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Tyrese Haliburton had 32 points and 11 assists and the Indiana Pacers beat Philadelphia 121-107 on Friday night, with the 76ers playing the second half without Joel Embiid after he sustained a sinus fracture when he was struck in the face late in the first.
Embiid was battling Indiana’s Bennedict Mathurin when he caught an errant forearm and elbow to the bridge of the nose. Embiid crumpled to the ground as play continued up floor and stayed down near the Philadelphia bench, holding his face.
Playing just his sixth game of the season, Embiid had 12 points, four rebounds and five assists in 17 1/2 minutes.
Pascal Siakam added 23 points for Indiana, and Obi Toppin had 20. They each had eight rebounds.
Tyrese Maxey led Philadelphia with 22 points. Paul George added 15.
Takeaways
Pacers: The Pacers had lost five of six coming into Philadelphia, but showed the kind of athletic style that still makes them a potential threat in the Eastern Conference.
76ers: Philadelphia’s injury-plagued season keeps going with more concerns about Embiid, who has a history of facial injuries.
Key moment
Haliburton set the tone and gave the Pacers early separation, making four 3-pointers in the first quarter as Indiana grabbed a 29-22 lead. Haliburton made seven 3s.
Key stat
Philadelphia has only had Embiid, Maxey and George in the lineup together for more than 30 minutes once this season — Sunday in a victory over Chicago.
Up next
Indiana host New Orleans on Sunday. Philadelphia is at Charlotte on Monday.
