Pacers’ 38-30 first-quarter lead quickly turns into Sixers rout

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Indiana Pacers host Philadelphia 76ers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis

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Indiana Pacers host Philadelphia 76ers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis

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Indiana Pacers host Philadelphia 76ers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis

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Indiana Pacers host Philadelphia 76ers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis

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Indiana Pacers host Philadelphia 76ers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis

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Indiana Pacers host Philadelphia 76ers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis

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Indiana Pacers host Philadelphia 76ers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis

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Indiana Pacers host Philadelphia 76ers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis

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Indiana Pacers host Philadelphia 76ers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis

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Indiana Pacers host Philadelphia 76ers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis

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Indiana Pacers host Philadelphia 76ers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis

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Indiana Pacers host Philadelphia 76ers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis

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Indiana Pacers host Philadelphia 76ers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis

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Indiana Pacers host Philadelphia 76ers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis

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Indiana Pacers host Philadelphia 76ers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis

INDIANAPOLIS — All-Star point guard Tyrese Maxey posted 32 points, nine rebounds and eight assists to lead the 76ers to a 135-114 win over the Pacers on Tuesday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

The Pacers have lost four straight to start the post-All-Star Break period and fell to 15-44, sitting alone in last place in the Eastern Conference. The 76ers improved to 32-26 and sit in sixth place in the East.

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Center Joel Embiid scored 27 points, grabbed six rebounds and dished out five assists for the Sixers. Rookie guard VJ Edgecombe had 23 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Guard Quentin Grimes added 15 points. Guard Andrew Nembhard and center Micah Potter led the Pacers with 23 points each. Guard Quenton Jackson had 15 points and rookie guard Kam Jones scored 13.

Here are three observations.

Tyrese Maxey too much for Pacers

Much of the star power on these two rosters was dimmed at least somewhat on Tuesday night. The Pacers were without Tyrese Haliburton and Obi Toppin as usual but were also missing Pascal Siakam, Ivica Zubac and Aaron Nesmith. The Sixers weren’t nearly as short-handed, but forward and former Pacers All-Star Paul George is out on a 25-game suspension and Embiid was back but clearly still hobbled by knee problems.

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But the biggest star available on the floor acted like it and the Pacers didn’t have much of an answer.

Maxey went off for 32 points on 10 of 22 shooting, attacking the rim with seven of his 10 field goals coming in the paint but also hitting two 3-pointers on eight attempts. He also got to the free-throw line plenty with 10 free throws on 10 attempts. He grabbed nine rebounds and two steals, and dished out eight assists against two turnovers. He was impossible to contain in the open floor and nearly as unstoppable in the half court.

Pacers start strong, fall apart in second quarter

As has tended to be the case for most games since the All-Star break, the Pacers had a strong start but saw all their gains disappear quickly.

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The Pacers took a 38-30 lead at the end of the first quarter, shooting 14 of 25 from the floor and 6 of 11 from 3-point range in the first quarter to post 1.35 points per possession. Rookie guard Kam Jones came out hot, scoring the Pacers’ first eight points and Micah Potter also scored eight first-quarter points; the contributions from unexpected places seemed to bode well.

But their lead disappeared very quickly early in the second quarter and never returned. The Sixers started the quarter on a 17-0 run to take a 47-40 advantage. The Pacers missed their first 10 field goals before they finally made one. The Sixers outscored them 45-27 in the period to take a 75-65 halftime lead, making 16 of 21 field goals in the period and posting 1.51 points per possession. The Pacers, meanwhile, were 10 of 28 in the period and 2 of 13 from 3 for 0.88 points per possession. The Pacers cut into the lead at some points in the second half but the Sixers ultimately turned it into a runaway.

Micah Potter, Kam Jones post career scoring highs

With Ivica Zubac still out and the 280-pound Embiid being a particularly tough matchup for the skinnier Jay Huff, the Pacers put a heavy burden on Potter at the 5 because he has a little more muscle. The former Wisconsin star responded with the highest scoring game of his NBA career.

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Potter scored 23 points, cracking the 20-point mark for the first time, on 9 of 11 shooting including 3 of 5 from the 3-point line. He also grabbed three rebounds, blocked two shots and dished out three assists. The Pacers finished -8 in his minutes, which was one of the best plus-minus figures on the team.

Jones meanwhile scored the first eight points of the game, and though he slowed down after that he finished with a career-high 13 points on 5 of 11 shooting to go with six rebounds and three assists.

Dustin Dopirak covers the Pacers all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Pacers Insider newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Pacers vs Sixers: Tyrese Maxey near-triple-double leads Philadelphia