INDIANAPOLIS -- The Philadelphia 76ers paid a visit to the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night looking to get back in the win column. When considering the Pacers are likely a team the Sixers will be jockeying with for playoff positioning in the Eastern Conference, it was hugely important to pick up a win on the road and gain an early edge in the season series.
The Sixers used a big second quarter to gain an edge and then hang on for a 114-109 win over a feisty Pacers team despite a miserable third quarter. Jaylen Brown had 20 points and 10 rebounds on the night as he went to work against Indiana after a slow start and carried the offense at times.
Joel Embiid had 21 points and 11 rebounds while LeBron James added 13 points, five rebounds, and 10
assists. Tyrese Maxey exploded in the fourth and then led Philadelphia with 27 points and five rebounds, Anfernee Simons had 20 points, and VJ Edgecombe added eight points and seven rebounds.
Here are the player grades following the win:
Tyrese Maxey: B-plus
Maxey didn’t really look for his own offense in the early going of this one. The 2-time All-Star did a great job of defending at the point of attack and was able to find success with his playmaking abilities. As the game wore on, Maxey tried to shift into an aggressive offensive mode, but the Pacers deserve credit for slowing him down a bit and forcing him into some tough looks and forcing him to commit a few offensive fouls. With that being said, he was huge in the fourth quarter to help the Sixers close this one out. He knocked down some huge shots that put the Pacers away and shook off his slow play in the first three quarters.
VJ Edgecombe: C-plus
It was a relatively quiet offensive night for Edgecombe, but he was terrific defensively and on the glass. He had a tough time finding any type of rhythm in terms of shot, but he was able to contribute in other ways, which is what he will have to lean on at the moment. The second-year guard has such a high basketball IQ and it will benefit him as he moves forward in this new role next to so many established stars.
Jaylen Brown: B-plus
It was a tough start to this one for Brown. He committed a slew of turnovers in the early going and was unable to get going with his shot, but he was able to help on the glass and give the Sixers some tough rebounds in that area. Eventually, he found his rhythm offensively and found ways to keep the scoreboard moving for Philadelphia. Once Brown finds that groove, he’s tough to stop and he made life miserable for the Pacers. He had some big hoops in the third quarter when the Pacers went on their huge run to take a double digit lead, but he also contributed to Indiana going on such a big run as well. Overall, there were some mistakes by Brown, but he also was efficient on the offensive end and was helpful for Philadelphia.
LeBron James: B
James was a bit methodical in this one. He took what the Pacers gave him and did a great job of making plays for others. There were a few offensive possessions when he went right at Pacers guard Braden Smith and made life tough for him when the rookie was in the game. He was aggressive on the defensive end, was terrific with the basketball in his hands, and made life easier for everybody around him. He knocked down a big 3 in the third to stop Indiana’s early run and he made a lot of plays in other areas in order to be productive. He didn’t shoot the ball particularly well, but he was able to get on the glass and contribute in other areas.
Joel Embiid: B
The Sixers fed the big fella early because, with all due respect to Pacers big man Jay Huff, there was no real option Indiana could throw on Embiid. The 2023 MVP winner got after it as he was scoring well in the mid-range as well as in the post and finding his way to get things rolling offensively. After a hot start, Embiid did slow down a bit as he began settling for long jumpers. His offensive inefficiency was a part of the reason the Pacers were able to get back into the game as they took advantage of the chances to get out and run off the long misses. To his credit, he made some big plays in the fourth and was great on the glass all night.
Anfernee Simons: A
It’s been a struggle to begin the season, but Simons hopped off the bench and gave Philadelphia a big boost. He knocked down four triples in the first half and gave the Sixers some immediate offense. If this is the game that helps him break out of his slump and find his rhythm, then the Sixers will be able to build a solid bench unit. He made some huge hoops all night long for this group.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope: B
The veteran hopped off the bench and found ways to produce. He was all over the place defensively as he disrupted a lot of what Indiana wanted to do on the perimeter and he also contributed on the other end as he took advantage of his opportunities.
Dean Wade: C
The initial stint for Wade didn’t produce many stats, but he found a way to be impactful. He spaced correctly, was terrific defensively, and found ways to help Philadelphia to the tune of a plus-11 in 11 minutes on the floor as he made his presence felt. He missed an open corner 3, but at least he took it as Philadelphia urges him to take those open looks.
Adem Bona: C-minus
The initial stint for Bona was a tough one. He was called for a technical foul and then committed two personal fouls in two quick minutes. He was a bit better in the second half, but not by much.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Player grades: Jaylen Brown, Sixers knock off Pacers in road matchup
