Maxey, Embiid lead 76ers to 135-114 rout of Pacers

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Joel Embiid had 27 points in his return to the lineup after missing five games with right shin soreness and right knee injury management, Tyrese Maxey scored 32 points, and the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Indiana Pacers 135-114 on Tuesday night.

Embiid scored 20 points in the first half, sinking 11 of 17 shots in 26 minutes. VJ Edgecombe chipped in with 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting for the 76ers, who shot 58%.

Andrew Nembhard and Micah Potter each scored 23 for the Pacers, with Potter's total a career high. Quenton Jackson had 15 points and rookie Kam Jones added a career-high 13 points.

Pacers leading scorer Pascal Siakam was out with a left wrist sprain. The Pacers also were without Aaron Nesmith, who missed his third consecutive game with right ankle sprain.

Indiana shot 42% from the field and committed 16 turnovers. Philadelphia held a 44-41 rebounding edge with Maxey leading the way with nine rebounds. Jarace Walker had 10 rebounds for the Pacers.

The 76ers showed their dominance inside with a 82-52 edge in points in the paint.

The Pacers led 38-30 after the first quarter, but the 76ers answered with a 17-0 spurt to open the second quarter and take a 47-38 lead. Philadelphia shot 64% to take a 75-65 lead at halftime.

Maxey scored 13 points in the third quarter as the 76ers took complete control, expanding the lead to 106-85 after three quarters.

Philadelphia led by 28 points in the fourth quarter before emptying the bench.

76ers: Host Miami on Thursday night.

Pacers: Host Charlotte on Thursday night.

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Philadelphia guard VJ Edgecombe (77) shoots over Indiana guard Kobe Brown (24) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

Indiana center Jay Huff, left, shoots over Philadelphia forward Dominick Barlow during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

Philadelphia guard Tyrese Maxey (0)shoots between Indiana Pacers defenders Ben Sheppard (26) and Quenton Jackson (29) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

Philadelphia guard Quentin Grimes, right, is fouled by Indiana center Micah Potter during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

Philadelphia center Joel Embiid (21) looks to move around Indiana guard T.J. McConnell (9) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — More than a dozen states sued the Trump administration Tuesday over its rollback of vaccine recommendations for children, calling the move an illegal threat to public health.

The states argue that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention put children's lives at risk when it announced last month that it would stop recommending all children get immunized against the flu, rotavirus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, some forms of meningitis and RSV. Under the new guidance, which was met with criticism from medical experts, protections against those diseases are recommended only for certain groups deemed high risk or when doctors recommend them in what’s called “shared decision-making.”

The new vaccine recommendations ignore long-standing medical guidance and will make states have to spend more to protect against outbreaks, the states, including Arizona and California, said.

“The health and safety of children across the country is not a political issue,” Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, a Democrat, said at a news conference. “It is not a culture war talking point.”

Emily G. Hilliard, press secretary for the Department of Health and Human Services, blasted the complaint as a “publicity stunt dressed up as a lawsuit.”

The lawsuit escalates an ongoing battle between Democratic-led states and Republican President Donald Trump's administration over the federal government's changes to public health policy under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The Trump administration has laid off thousands of workers at federal public health agencies, cut funding for scientific research and altered government guidance on fluoride and other topics.

Kennedy last year ousted every member of a vaccine advisory committee and replaced them with his own picks, which Tuesday's complaint alleges was unlawful.

The lawsuit comes months after the Democratic governors of California, Washington state and Oregon launched an alliance to establish their own vaccine recommendations. The governors said the Trump administration was risking people's health by politicizing the CDC.

States, not the federal government, have the authority to require vaccinations for schoolchildren, though the CDC's requirements typically influence state regulations.

FILE - California Attorney General Rob Bonta speaks to reporters outside the Supreme Court, on Nov. 5, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)

FILE - Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes speaks to reporters as Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield listens outside the Supreme Court, on Nov. 5, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)