Philadelphia 76ers MVP Joel Embiid on the Indiana Pacers: 'They are tough to guard'
The Philadelphia 76ers are 9-3, and two of their three losses came against the top-two regular season teams from the 2022-23 NBA season. They have dropped close games to both Milwaukee and Boston this year.
Their third defeat came at the hands of the Indiana Pacers, who are an ascending young team that already has notched many quality wins. Their elite offense and rapid pace has allowed them to take down the 76ers as well as the Milwaukee Bucks and Cleveland Cavaliers (twice) this season.
The Pacers victory in Philadelphia was their best win of the season, though. Taking down the reigning MVP, Joel Embiid, and rising star Tyrese Maxey is quite the accomplishment. They did it their way — they played fast and scored 132 points.
That impressed Embiid, who finished with 39 points that night. "They are tough to guard because all of their players run full-speed. I think one of the main things about them is, obviously they are young, but they are so unpredictable," the MVP said, per game notes distributed by the 76ers. Embiid has always been a thorn in the Pacers side, and he had an excellent offensive game that night. But Indiana made him move defensively, and that was key.
"You don't know what to do because they are always running 100 miles per hour. That's what happens when you are young and have a team like that. [Tyrese Haliburton] was excellent. He made a lot of tough shots. Whether it was step-backs, or under-hands, or a running-hook, those were tough. He's an amazing player and he's been doing a great job," Embiid continued. Haliburton gave Philadelphia trouble all night — and he did the same two days earlier.
In a pair of outings against the Sixers, Haliburton finished with 58 points, eight rebounds, 32 assists, and zero turnovers. Philadelphia head coach Nick Nurse explained after the second game that tried many different players and coverages against the Pacers star, but they were unsuccessful. Haliburton was brilliant.
On the season, Haliburton is averaging 24.7 points and 12.5 assists per game. His play with the ball has guided the blue and gold to a ridiculous 127.8 offensive rating when Haliburton is in the game, per pbpstats. That number is almost unfathomable.
"He's great honestly, man. What he does for that team, the way he keeps the energy up, the way he fights as far as getting the ball and giving his teammates the ball," 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey said of Haliburton.
Indiana currently has the best offensive rating in the league, and Haliburton is a big part of why. Other players have stepped up all season, though. Myles Turner has had a few big games, and Aaron Nesmith, Bruce Brown, Bennedict Mathurin, and Obi Toppin have all stepped up in key moments. Toppin had 27 points when the Pacers took down the 76ers — it was his best game of the season.
Indiana's tough-to-contain offense hits the hardwood again today against the Orlando Magic, who have the NBA's top defensive rating entering the day.
- Indiana Pacers and center Daniel Theis agree to contract buyout. CLICK HERE.
- Ben Sheppard scores first NBA points in front of family in Boston, off to a solid start for the Indiana Pacers. CLICK HERE.
- Oscar Tshiebwe is 'dominating' the boards in the G League for the Indiana Mad Ants. CLICK HERE.
- Indiana Pacers take down Philadelphia 76ers on the road for In-Season Tournament victory. CLICK HERE.
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