Embiid Returns As 76ers Host Injury-Riddled Pacers In High-Stakes NBA Clash

The Indiana Pacers and Philadelphia 76ers squared off on Monday night at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, with tipoff set for 7:00 p.m. ET. This marked the second meeting of the season between the two Eastern Conference squads, and while the Pacers entered with a dismal 10-33 record, they carried a surprising bit of momentum, having won four of their last six games. The 76ers, meanwhile, looked to bounce back from a pair of recent losses and maintain their edge in the season series, having previously bested the Pacers 115-105 back on December 12, 2025.

Heading into the contest, both teams were dealing with significant injury woes that threatened to shape the evening’s outcome. For Indiana, the absence of star guard Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles) loomed large, as he was officially ruled out. Bennedict Mathurin, a key scoring threat, remained sidelined with a thumb injury, missing his ninth consecutive game. Obi Toppin (foot) was also unavailable, while Kam Jones, Taelon Peter, and Ethan Thompson were all listed as doubtful due to G League assignments. The Pacers’ roster was stretched thin, raising questions about who would step up to fill the offensive void.

Philadelphia’s own injury report was equally notable. Joel Embiid, the reigning MVP candidate, had been listed as questionable due to left knee injury management but was ultimately upgraded to available—a huge sigh of relief for Sixers fans. Embiid had missed just one game since the start of January and was averaging a robust 26.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 3.5 assists this month. Paul George, however, was ruled out after being initially questionable with a left knee issue. George’s absence was a blow, as he had contributed 15.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.4 steals per game in January. Second-year guard Jared McCain was doubtful due to a G League assignment, and MarJon Beauchamp and Johni Broome were both out for the same reason. Kelly Oubre Jr., who had recently returned from a two-month absence with a knee sprain, was available and expected to play a significant role.

Despite the Pacers’ struggles—highlighted by a lopsided 121-78 defeat to the Detroit Pistons just two days prior—the team was not without hope. Jarace Walker had led Indiana in that game with 13 points, the only starter to reach double figures, as the Pacers shot a paltry 35% from the field. Still, Indiana’s recent stretch of four wins in six games suggested resilience, and the squad was eager to prove that their record didn’t tell the whole story.

On the other side, the Sixers entered the night 22-18 overall, having stumbled in three of their last four contests. Their most recent outing saw them fall 117-115 to the Cleveland Cavaliers, with Embiid pouring in 33 points and Tyrese Maxey adding 22. Philadelphia’s offense had cooled somewhat, scoring 115 or fewer points in each of their last five games, but the team remained a formidable force, especially at home.

The betting markets reflected the Sixers’ status as clear favorites. Philadelphia was a 6-point favorite on the spread, with the over/under set at 227.5 points. Moneyline odds pegged the 76ers at -225 and the Pacers at +185, underscoring the uphill battle facing Indiana. Analysts pointed to Indiana’s 2-17 road record and recent offensive woes—they had scored 101 or fewer points in three of their last four games—as reasons to back Philadelphia, particularly with Embiid cleared to play.

Joel Embiid’s dominance over the Pacers was a major talking point leading up to tipoff. In the teams’ previous meeting, Embiid erupted for 39 points, and he had scored 30 or more in each of his last outings against Indiana. As one analyst put it, “Embiid loves playing against the Pacers. In the games against Indiana where he’s played his typical minutes, Embiid has scored 30+ points in all of them—including a 39-point effort earlier this season.” With the Pacers’ interior defense among the league’s weakest, expectations were high for another monster night from the Sixers’ big man.

While Embiid was expected to lead the charge, the absence of Paul George put more pressure on Tyrese Maxey and Kelly Oubre Jr. to step up offensively. Maxey, in particular, was coming off a 38-point explosion against the Raptors when both Embiid and George sat out. “The guard is averaging 30.3 points per game on a team-high 30.8% usage rate with Embiid and George sidelined,” noted one preview. Against a Pacers defense allowing the third-most points to opposing point guards and playing at the league’s ninth-fastest pace, Maxey was primed for another big outing.

For Indiana, Pascal Siakam’s playmaking became even more crucial with Mathurin out. Siakam had averaged 4.4 assists in seven of eight games with Mathurin sidelined, and his assist rate had jumped to 21.2% without his teammate on the floor. Analysts expected him to surpass 3.5 assists on the night, especially with Philadelphia’s defense potentially weakened by injuries.

Kelly Oubre Jr. was another name to watch. Although he was expected to see increased usage with both Embiid and George previously trending toward sitting, the guard had struggled as an outside shooter in such situations, averaging just 1.6 made threes per game on 28.2% shooting from beyond the arc in six games without the two stars. The Pacers, for their part, were excellent at defending the perimeter, allowing the NBA’s fewest opponent threes per game and the second-lowest three-point percentage. This matchup seemed likely to challenge Oubre’s shooting efficiency.

As the teams took the court, the stakes were clear: Philadelphia aimed to solidify its playoff positioning and sweep the season series thus far, while Indiana hoped to turn recent momentum into a statement road win despite a battered lineup. The Sixers’ home crowd buzzed with anticipation, especially with Embiid back in action and the team celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day with a marquee matchup.

With the action underway, all eyes were on Embiid to see if he would continue his run of dominance against Indiana’s frontcourt. Would Maxey seize the spotlight in George’s absence? Could the Pacers overcome their depleted roster and recent blowout loss to keep things competitive? The answers were set to unfold on the hardwood, with both teams looking to make a statement as the NBA season pushed deeper into January.

As the game progressed, the intensity was palpable, with each possession carrying extra weight for two teams fighting to define their seasons. Whether it was Embiid’s inside presence, Maxey’s dynamic scoring, or Siakam’s all-around contributions, the night promised plenty of drama—and perhaps a few surprises. With the outcome still very much in play, fans and analysts alike waited eagerly to see which squad would seize the moment.

With the final buzzer yet to sound, the story of Pacers vs. 76ers on January 19, 2026, remains a developing tale—one filled with injuries, high expectations, and the relentless pursuit of victory in the heart of Philadelphia.