The Philadelphia 76ers didn’t just beat the Indiana Pacers — they wore them down, then stepped on the gas. Behind a season-high from Joel Embiid and a vintage Paul George performance against his former team, the Sixers pulled away late for a 115–105 home win over the Pacers.
Embiid Turns It Up: Season-High 39 and a Statement Night
Joel Embiid looked every bit the reigning MVP-level force the Sixers need him to be.
According to game reports,
Embiid poured in a season-high 39 points, adding
9 rebounds and 3 assists, and even knocked down
2 three-pointers in the win. He controlled the night from the mid-post, the free-throw line, and the arc, repeatedly punishing Indiana’s defense whenever they tried to send help or switch.
Video highlights show Embiid sealing deep, drawing contact at will, and closing the door in key late-game possessions as the Pacers’ defense visibly wore down.
For Philadelphia, this wasn’t just a big box score — it was a reminder that when Embiid is aggressive and in rhythm, they can look like a serious threat in the East again.
Paul George Haunts His Old Team
If Embiid was the hammer,
Paul George was the scalpel.
Facing the franchise where he became a star, George delivered
23 points, 6 assists, and 5 rebounds in a smooth all-around effort. He hit
4-of-7 from three, spaced the floor, and repeatedly attacked mismatches off the dribble, including a few tough finishes and pull-ups highlighted by the Sixers’ own recap.
The Sixers’ official highlight packages show George running pick-and-roll, finding teammates like Jon Barlo on dives to the rim, and then shifting into isolation mode late to punish switches. His ability to operate as both scorer and playmaker made it nearly impossible for Indiana to load up solely on Embiid.
For a team still building chemistry around its new star duo, the Embiid–George pairing looked particularly
balanced:
- Embiid commanding the paint and the foul line
- George stretching defenses out to the perimeter and initiating offense
That dynamic was on full display in the decisive fourth quarter.
The Fourth-Quarter Flip: Sixers Close, Pacers Fade
Through three quarters, Indiana hung around, but the fourth belonged to Philadelphia.
The Sixers “strung together a dominant fourth quarter,” as the team’s own highlight reel put it, turning a tight contest into a controlled double-digit win. Defensive pressure ramped up, Indiana’s offense bogged down, and Embiid’s shot-making took over late.
Key factors in the closing stretch:
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Halfcourt defense: Philly forced Indiana into tougher looks and late-clock situations.
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Star shot-making: Embiid and George generated clean looks when possessions stalled.
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Role-player contributions: Players like VJ Edgecombe and Barlo flashed energy plays — cuts, putbacks, and rim runs — that kept the momentum tilted toward Philly.
By the final minutes, it felt less like a coin-flip game and more like the Sixers methodically exerting control.
Pacers’ Effort: Siakam Leads, But Not Enough
On the other side, the Pacers had their moments but couldn’t sustain them.
Pascal Siakam led Indiana with
20 points and 5 rebounds, pacing a balanced but ultimately underpowered offensive attack. He mixed drives, midrange looks, and transition chances, but the Pacers lacked the kind of go-to closing punch Embiid provided for Philly.
Indiana’s issues were familiar:
- Difficulty finishing defensive possessions against elite size
- Inconsistent halfcourt execution late
- Limited answers once the Sixers tightened their rotations
The result: another frustrating loss in a season that’s increasingly slipping away.
What the Result Means for Both Teams
The win nudged the
76ers to 14–10, a record that suggests a team still ironing out its identity but clearly dangerous when healthy. With Embiid ramping up and George settling into his role, the ceiling looks considerably higher than their early-season stumbles might indicate.
For the
Pacers, the loss dropped them to
6–19, a mark that signals deeper problems than just bad luck. Whether this becomes a development year, a reset, or a pivot at the trade deadline is now a very real storyline to watch.
This particular matchup underscored a sharp contrast:
| Team | Record After Game | Identity Snapshot |
|---------------|-------------------|----------------------------------------------------|
| 76ers | 14–10 | Star-driven, improving defense, rising chemistry |
| Pacers | 6–19 | Competitive spurts, but lacking late-game answers |
Big-Picture Takeaways
A few things this Pacers–Sixers clash quietly revealed:
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Embiid is heating up: A season-high at this point suggests his conditioning and rhythm are catching up to his talent level — bad news for the rest of the East.
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Paul George’s fit is real: His 23-6-5 line is exactly the kind of two-way versatility Philly envisioned when they brought him in.
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Pacers are at a crossroads: Strong individual nights from Siakam and others aren’t yet translating into wins, especially against playoff-caliber teams.
If this game is any indication, the 76ers are trending upward at the exact moment Indiana is searching for answers.
Sources
1. PACERS at 76ERS | FULL GAME HIGHLIGHTS | December 12, 2025
2. Game Highlights: Sixers Take Down Pacers at Home - YouTube
3. Paul George Pours in 23 Points in Win - YouTube
4. Embiid scores season-high 39 points to lead 76ers to 115-105 win ...
