PHILADELPHIA - Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey each scored 31 points and Tobias Harris added 24 as the Philadelphia 76ers routed the Indiana Pacers 141-121 on Saturday night to match their season high with an eighth consecutive victory.In a matchup of teams missing All-Stars — Philadelphia’s James Harden and Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton — the 76ers shot 61% from the field, led by as many as 24 points and never looked back after overcoming an early eight-point deficit.Embiid, who set a franchise record with his ninth straight outing of at least 30 points, chipped in seven assists and seven rebounds. Philadelphia legends Allen Iverson and Wilt Chamberlain each had eight-game runs of 30 points or more."Embiid is right now probably the (NBA) MVP with what their team is doing and how he’s just elevated his game," Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. "He’s as a difficult a guy to plan for as there is in the game.
He had 31 points and made it look like he wasn’t even trying to do it. He’s a walking cheat code."De’Anthony Melton started in Harden’s place and finished with 14 points, five assists, five rebounds and six steals, while Maxey had seven assists."I was really happy," Sixers coach Doc Rivers said. "Everybody contributed.
Joel at times was our point guard. He probably had 15 hockey assists, and that was just terrific. Low turnovers.