By: Kylan Watson

The Philadelphia 76ers earned their first win of the season, against the Indiana Pacers.  Led by Joel Embiid who scored 25 points in 25 minutes to help the Sixers earned their first victory in 2016. Embiid also helped the Sixers also avoided being the first team in the NBA to be 0-8.

This is the first time in three seasons that the Sixers have not started the season 0-8. The victory also ended an 11-game home losing streak that dates back to the 2015 NBA season.  October and November have not been kind to the 76ers. The Sixers had lost 44 straight games before Friday’s thrilling victory.

The 76ers needed an extra quarter to beat the Pacers, but they avenged a lost earlier in the week to the Pacers.  Embiid wasn’t the only 76er to come alive in the overtime period. Forward, Ersan Ilyasova and point guard Nik Stauskas scored 14 points each, and guard Gerald Henderson added 12 points.

Embiid and the rest of the 76ers are riding high after their first victory, heading into a matchup tonight against the 6-2 Atlanta Hawks.  Finally, the Sixers have become relevant again in the Philadelphia sports world.