Indiana PacersOpen full analysis
Philadelphia 76ersOpen full analysis
The Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Indiana Pacers 115–105 on December 12 at Wells Fargo Center, staying below the Vegas total of 221.5 in a defensive-minded affair. Joel Embiid led the way with 39 points, while Paul George added 23 points in a balanced scoring attack that saw Philadelphia shoot 44.3 percent from the field and connect on 12 three-pointers. The Pacers, led by Pascal Siakam's 20 points and Andrew Nembhard's 18 points, kept pace early but collapsed in the fourth quarter, scoring just 15 points as Philadelphia's defense tightened considerably. Indiana shot 39.6 percent and made 13 threes of their own, but their 26 assists couldn't overcome a turnover-prone Philadelphia squad that committed 12 miscues; the Pacers' superior ball security (7 turnovers) went underutilized as they were outrebounded 50–46. The 76ers' 116.3 offensive rating and 105.7 defensive rating proved decisive in a game that hinged on execution in the final frame. Philadelphia's fourth-quarter defense will be critical as they navigate the playoff positioning race.
