Embiid’s return propels 76ers to a dominant win over Indiana

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Joel Embiid is back.

After missing the last five games due to right shin and right knee injuries, the former league Most Valuable Player (MVP) came back as if he never sat out, dropping 27 big points during the Philadelphia 76ers’ one-sided 135-114 win over the Indiana Pacers on Feb. 25, 2026.

Embiid was immediately called up to start the game, and the dominant center responded to the challenge after manhandling Indiana in the paint.

However, the 76ers failed to slow down Indiana’s Andrew Nembhard, who waxed hot from downtown, giving the Pacers a 38-30 advantage at the end of the opening quarter.

All hell broke loose when the next quarter kicked off, as Embiid, backstopped by Tyrese Maxey and Quentin Grimes, helped turn around the game in favor of Philadelphia with a massive 45-27 second frame outing.

Maxey led the barrage after knocking down consecutive three-pointers, followed by an Embiid masterclass in the low block and Grimes’ timely second-chance efforts to close the half on a high note.

The Pacers tried to send help for Embiid and deployed soft double teams whenever he touched the leather in the shaded lane, but the experienced front-court star wisely dimed several bullet kick-out passes that set up wide-open 3-point attempts for his backcourt gunners.

As a result of Embiid and Maxey’s unstoppable scoring run, the 76ers were able to mount their biggest lead of the game to 28 points in the third quarter.

The Pacers attempted to battle back after Nembhard began the final quarter with six quick points, but Philadelphia’s bench mob, led by VJ Edgecombe and Trendon Watford, answered every Indiana bucket, buying more time for the starters to rest.

When Indiana failed to pull within the 10 to 15-point margin, head coach Rick Carlisle decided to throw in the towel with five minutes still remaining in the game.

Aside from his scoring clinic, Embiid also stuffed the stat sheets with six rebounds, five assists, and a block, while finishing the win with an efficient 11-of-17 shooting from the field.

Maxey led all scorers after exploding for 32 markers built from a perfect 10-of-10 free throw shooting, while Edgecombe, Grimes, and Watford added 23, 15, and 12 points, respectively.

On the other hand, the Pacers failed to snap their losing streak and fell four games in a row, against the Wizards, Dallas, and now Philadelphia.