Joel Embiid, James Harden lead Sixers to a 147-143 victory over Indiana Pacers in defenseless game

INDIANAPOLIS – Ninety-seven minutes before tipoff, Rick Carlisle was asked a question about defending 76ers All-Star Joel Embiid.

The Indiana Pacers coach snickered at the question before playfully deferring the subject.

“Will Ferrell is going to be here tonight,” Carlisle said. “He’s going to be sitting near our bench. I’m hoping he can help us with Joel and be the next answer I have for you.”

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But the focus should have been on defense on a night when entertainers Ferrell and 50 Cent were in attendance Monday night at Gainbridge Arena.

The Sixers prevailed, 147-143, in a game where making defensive stops was a rare occurrence.

“Some nights you’ve just got to win the game,” Sixers coach Doc Rivers said, “and tonight was one of them. They’re a really good offensive team. We got caught in their tempo, and didn’t want to get out, you could tell.

“The problem is we couldn’t get stops.”

But the Sixers won the game, in large part, by finally stringing together several consecutive halts during one stretch in the fourth quarter.

The Sixers are in third place in the Eastern Conference with a 42-22 record. Monday’s victory combined with the Boston Celtics’ 118-114 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers pulled them within two games of second-place Boston (45-21) with 18 games left, two more than Boston.

After the Pacers knotted the score at 118 with 9 minutes, 51 seconds remaining, they missed five consecutive shots. Taking advantage, the Sixers went on a 10-0 run and led the rest of the way.

“We got some separation,” Tyrese Maxey said, “and they kept making shots and we kept making shots. And that’s just one of those games.”

Philly shot 58.5% from the field while the Pacers were slightly better at 58.9%. There were a total of 13 double-digit scorers.

Indiana led, 79-78, at intermission thanks to Tyrese Haliburton’s three-pointer before the buzzer. That shot capped a 61.1% shooting first half by Indiana, while the Sixers shot 61%.

The Sixers played without starting forwards Tobias Harris (bruised left calf) and P.J. Tucker (back spasm). The duo is expected to return Tuesday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Target Center.

With Harris and Tucker out, the Sixers unveiled a starting lineup of De’Anthony Melton, Jalen McDaniels, James Harden, Maxey, and Embiid.

Embiid had a game-high 42 points to go with five rebounds and three assists. Harden added 14 points, a game-high 20 assists and nine rebounds. He’s the only player with multiple 20-assist games this season. Maxey had 24 points, while McDaniels contributed his Sixers-best 20 points and eight rebounds. Subs Shake Milton (15 points) and Danuel House Jr. (10) were the Sixers’ other double-digit scorers.

The team also finished with a season-high 37 assists.

Meanwhile, Haliburton, an All-Star point guard, paced the Pacers with 40 points and 16 assists.

Carlisle was right about the Pacers not having any answers when it came to stopping Embiid.

Mostly, the Sixers’ six-time All-Star did to whatever he wanted to against Myles Turner and anyone else who tried to defend him.

Embiid made 11 of 16 shots and went 19-for-19 from the foul line. The 7-foot-2, 280-pounder’s best quarter was in the third, scoring 14 points on 5-for-7 shooting and making all four of his foul shots.

» READ MORE: Sixers’ P.J. Tucker and Tobias Harris will miss Pacers game, return Tuesday vs Timberwolves

Turner was only on the floor for 2:39 in that quarter after picking up his fourth foul. However, Embiid appeared to get injured while picking up his third foul on a Turner dunk attempt. The Pacers center appeared to hit Embiid in the face. The Sixers center gingerly walked over near his team’s bench before falling to the floor.

Turner eventually fouled out with 45.3 seconds left. Embiid made both foul shots to give the Sixers an eight-point cushion.

After Harden’s three-point attempt with 8:20 play sailed out of bounds, the Pacers crowd chanted, “Airball!” But that play aside, Harden was the best ball handler on the floor. His 20 assists were one shy of his career-high of 21 that he collected on Dec. 23 against the Los Angeles Clippers. He had just one turnover

“Tyrese missing layups, all types of [stuff],” Harden said jokingly of Maxey’s missed layup later blowing an opportunity for his 21st assist. “Seriously man, what are we doing? I’m just playing.

“But I’m just trying to make plays. Not really efficient scoring the basketball tonight but find other ways to put an impact on the game. I saw some different things, made some good passes and had one turnover and that’s because Joel couldn’t catch the basketball.

“All in all, I’m just happy to come out with the win.”

On a serious note, the jovial Harden becomes the first Sixer to have produced multiple 20-assist performances in a single season.

“It’s an unbelievable franchise, man,” Harden said. “They got so many great players that have put on a 76ers jersey. To be added to the list is one of those feelings.”

Harden leads the league with 10.81 assists a game. Haliburton is second at 10.26.

Tuesday’s contest against the Timberwolves will be a rematch of Minnesota’s 112-109 victory at the Wells Fargo Center. The game also pits McDaniels against his brother and Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels.