76ers Beat Pacers 114–109: Maxey's Fourth-Quarter Rally Explained

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76ers vs. Pacers final score: 114–109

INDIANAPOLIS, October 29, 2026 — The Philadelphia 76ers beat the Indiana Pacers 114–109 on Wednesday after entering the fourth quarter down 88–75. Tyrese Maxey scored 27 points, including two three-pointers in the final 90 seconds. The NBA's official game record confirms the final score and Philadelphia's 39–21 advantage in the fourth quarter.

The result moved Philadelphia to 4–1 and dropped Indiana to 2–3. Joel Embiid added 21 points and 11 rebounds. Indiana's Pascal Siakam scored 26, while Andrew Nembhard recorded 18 points and 14 assists, according to the AP game recap carried by CBS Sports.

How did Philadelphia erase a 13-point deficit?

The game's momentum changed twice. Philadelphia led 62–52 at halftime, then produced only 13 points in the third quarter as Indiana scored 36. That swing put the Pacers ahead by 13 going into the last 12 minutes. Rather than continuing to trade baskets, the Sixers increased their scoring pace and put together a decisive fourth-quarter run.

The NBA's Fantastic Finish recap describes a 26–8 Philadelphia surge. Maxey scored 17 of his 27 points in the fourth. His second late three made it 112–106 with 46 seconds remaining, giving the Sixers a cushion Indiana could not overcome.

Why Maxey's late three-pointers mattered

Maxey's shots were important not merely because they came near the end. Philadelphia had already closed a large gap, and each possession carried more weight as the clock shortened. Two made three-pointers in roughly 90 seconds transformed a fragile comeback into a two-possession advantage.

The Sixers also had to avoid repeating their third-quarter mistakes. Philadelphia scored 39 in the final period after managing 13 in the previous one, a 26-point quarter-to-quarter improvement. The 39–21 closing margin exceeded the 13-point deficit and created the five-point final victory. Those figures make the comeback measurable rather than simply dramatic.

What worked for Indiana before the collapse?

The Pacers had enough offense to win. Their 36-point third quarter and Siakam's 26-point night show how effectively they attacked Philadelphia after halftime. Nembhard's 14 assists demonstrate that Indiana was generating shots through playmaking, not solely through isolation scoring.

But a strong third quarter did not protect the lead. Indiana managed 21 points in the fourth while the Sixers found late perimeter offense. That split gives the Pacers a specific film-study problem: how to maintain shot quality and defensive coverage when the opponent accelerates late in a game.

What does the result mean for the early season?

The Sixers leave Indianapolis with evidence that they can win after a severe midgame offensive dip. Embiid's double-double and Maxey's late scoring offer complementary strengths, although one comeback does not resolve every issue with consistency or turnovers.

For Indiana, the result is a reminder that a double-digit lead at the end of three quarters is not secure against a team with strong perimeter shot creation. NewsTrendus reviewed official NBA scoring data and independent AP reporting on October 29, 2026.

Sources and verification

NewsTrendus reviewed these official records and independent reports on October 29, 2026. This article is original reporting and analysis based on attributed facts, not a reproduction of source articles.

• NBA — Philadelphia at Indiana official final score and quarter splits
• NBA — official video recap of Maxey's fourth-quarter comeback
• AP via CBS Sports — Philadelphia 114, Indiana 109 game report

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