The surging Philadelphia 76ers look for their ninth consecutive victory when they host the Indiana Pacers in the league’s in-season tournament Tuesday.
It will be a rematch after the Sixers defeated the Pacers 137-126 Sunday behind a career-high 50 points from Tyrese Maxey.
The Sixers have won eight of their first nine games for the first time since 2000-01 when they last reached the NBA Finals.
Reigning league Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid had 37 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists in 33 minutes as the Sixers improved to 6-0 at home.
This East Group A matchup will be Philadelphia’s second in-season tournament game following a road win against the Detroit Pistons last Friday.
The Sixers won without key contributor Kelly Oubre Jr., who was released from an area hospital after being struck by a car with undisclosed injuries on Saturday.
Without Oubre Jr., however, Philadelphia continued to execute on both ends of the court.
The Pacers, who won their East Group A opener 121-116 over the Cleveland Cavaliers Nov. 3, will look to rebound following the 11-point loss on Sunday.
Tyrese Haliburton was stellar with 25 points, 17 assists and zero turnovers. Myles Turner added 22 points and Buddy Hield had 16.
Indiana didn’t struggle offensively; it was the opposite end of the court that was troublesome. Maxey and Embiid ran a lot of pick-and-rolls, and the Pacers seemed flustered.
Yet they still held a one-point lead early in the fourth quarter before a late Sixers run put the game away.
