Redick’s 3s, Simmons’ triple-double too much for Pacers
PHILADELPHIA » J.J. Redick scored 31 points and hit three decisive 3-pointers late, Ben Simmons had a triple-double and the Philadelphia 76ers moved above .500 for the first time in nearly four years with a 121-110 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Friday night.
Redick was 8 of 12 from 3-point range, including the go-ahead shot with 2:06 left, another 3 to barely beat the shot clock with 1:08 remaining and a third from the left corner to make it 119-110 with 46 seconds left.
Simmons had 14 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists for his second triple-double in a rookie season delayed a year because of injury. The Sixers (5-4) hadn’t had a winning record since they were also 5-4 on Nov. 13, 2013, but their painful rebuild appears near an end as they won their fourth straight game.
Victor Oladipo shook off a slow start to score 31 points, Bojan Bogdanovic added 21 and Myles Turner had 11 points and nine rebounds in his return from a concussion for the Pacers. They were outscored 11-0 to close the game as their three-game winning streak was snapped.
After Redick’s 3 made it 113110, Domantas Sabonis was called for a charge at the other end and fouled out. After two empty possessions that included Joel Embiid missing a dunk, Simmons slipped and it appeared Philadelphia was going to turn it over.
But Redick ended up with the ball and drilled an off-balance 3 as the shot clock expired.
Each team led by nine points in an up-tempo game before the Sixers took control behind Redick, who signed a free-agent deal with Philadelphia in the offseason.
Turner hadn’t played since sustaining a concussion in Indiana’s season-opening win against Brooklyn on Oct. 18.
Pacers coach Nate McMillan had Turner come off the bench, and after a rusty start, he helped Indiana dominate inside in the first half.
Turner had a thunderous dunk over Dario Saric late in the first quarter and blocked Embiid’s jumper early in the second. His 3-pointer ignited a late 9-0 run that helped Indiana to a 63-56 halftime lead.
But Turner struggled with his shot in the second half and Embiid got the better of him late, scoring against him in the post midway through the fourth quarter.
Embiid had 18 points and nine rebounds.
Robert Covington scored 22 for the 76ers, who shot 50 percent from the field.
TIP-INS
76ERS » Richaun Holmes had several loud dunks during an effective third-quarter stint in his season debut. The center had been out since breaking his left wrist in the preseason.