Embiid scores season-high 39 points to lead 76ers to 115-105 win against Pacers

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid scored a season-high 39 points, Paul George had 23 and the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Indiana Pacers 115-105 on Friday night.

VJ Edgecombe added 22 points for the 76ers, who played without Tyrese Maxey — the NBA’s third-leading scorer (31.5 points per game) sat out with an illness.

Pascal Siakam had 20 points for the defending Eastern Conference champion Pacers, who dropped to 6-19.

Siakham’s jumper with 8:24 remaining gave Indiana a 100-95 lead, but the Pacers missed nine consecutive shots — including three 3-pointers — after that as the 76ers went on a 13-2 run. The spurt was capped with Embiid’s offensive rebound and follow basket. The 2023 MVP was fouled on the play and made the free throw to push Philadelphia's lead to 108-102.

Embiid, the seven-time All-Star who has been beset with injuries the last 1 1/2 seasons, came in averaging 18.2 points while playing in just nine of Philadelphia’s 23 contests due to left and right knee issues. However, he looked more like himself on Friday, hitting a step-back 3-pointer at the first-half buzzer to give him 14 points inn the second quarter.

Philadelphia improved to 6-4 with Embiid in the lineup.

The 76ers had four days off since losing 112-108 at home to LeBron James and the Lakers on Sunday night, giving Embiid plenty of time for rest and recovery. He was upgraded after being probable on the pregame injury report.

George, who was drafted by Indiana and played there from 2010–2017, also looked more like the nine-time All-Star that he is by finishing with a season high in points following offseason knee surgery.

Philadelphia was 33 for 43 on free throws while Indiana was 16 for 19. Indiana’s frustration with the disparity in attempts was apparent in the final minutes, as head coach Rick Carlisle received a technical foul with just over three minutes left and Siakham was assessed with one with 1:41 remaining.

Pacers: Host Washington on Sunday.

76ers: At Atlanta on Sunday night.

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Indiana Pacers' Isaiah Jackson (22) puts back the shot that teammate Johnny Furphy, bottom left, missed with Philadelphia 76ers' VJ Edgecombe, top left, defending. during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Indiana Pacers' Pascal Siakam, left, drives to the basket against Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid, right, during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Philadelphia 76ers' Paul George, left, drives to the basket with Indiana Pacers' Bennedict Mathurin, right, defending during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid, left, drives to the basket against Indiana Pacers' Isaiah Jackson, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid, left, looks to shoot against Indiana Pacers' Bennedict Mathurin, center, and Isaiah Jackson, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Donovan Mitchell scored 24 of his 48 points in the fourth quarter, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers back from a 15-point deficit in the final period to a 130-126 victory over the Washington Wizards on Friday night.

The Cavaliers went 15 of 53 from 3-point range, with Darius Garland going 0 for 11, but Mitchell connected from long range to tie the game at 122. Then he put Cleveland ahead to stay, scoring inside with 60 seconds remaining.

With the Cavaliers still up 124-122, Washington's Marvin Bagley III rebounded a miss, but Mitchell tied him up, forcing a jump ball. The 6-foot-11 Bagley has 8 inches on Mitchell, but both players mistimed their jumps and Lonzo Ball came up with possession for Cleveland. He made two free throws with 30.9 seconds left.

Mitchell's layup with 5.9 seconds to play put the Cavaliers up by six.

Cleveland attempted 34 3-pointers in the first half. The Cavaliers didn't shoot well but were still up 62-60 after two quarters. The third period was a fiasco for Cleveland that included Ball hitting nothing but glass on a breakaway layup attempt, and Nae'Quan Tomlin fouling out with 2:24 left in the period. Tomlin accumulated his six fouls in just 10:05 of playing time.

Washington led by as many as 17 points and was up 100-85 after three.

Mitchell started the fourth with 11 points in just over 2 1/2 minutes, cutting the margin to five with a 3-pointer. He was assessed a technical foul with 5:16 to play after making a layup, and he left the game then. But he quickly returned to play a decisive role down the stretch.

Bub Carrington and CJ McCollum scored 27 points apiece for Washington, and Jamir Watkins added a career-high 15.

Cavaliers: Host Charlotte on Sunday.

Wizards: At Indiana on Sunday.

AP NBA: https://www.apnews.com/hub/nba

Cleveland Cavaliers center Evan Mobley, left, hangs from the rim after dunking against Washington Wizards forward Kyshawn George, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell, left, looks to shoot against Washington Wizards guard Bub Carrington, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) prepare to shoot against Washington Wizards guard Bub Carrington, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)