​INDIANAPOLIS — Missing All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton and center Ivica Zubac, the Pacers didn’t seem to have much hope in their nationally televised game against the loaded 76ers on Wednesday. Thanks to a dominant third quarter they actually built a double-digit lead, but the Sixers closed strong to claim a 114-109 win at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Wednesday.The Pacers fell to 2-3. The 76ers improved to 4-1. Pacers go on 17-0 third-quarter run, fade in fourthSixers second-year guard V.J. Edgecombe drilled a 50-foot 3-pointer from beyond halfcourt at the halftime buzzer to put the Sixers up 62-52 and that seemed to signal that Wednesday’s game was going in the direction most expected when it was announced that Haliburton wouldn’t be available for Wednesday’s game. However, the Pacers refused to accept that as a given and in the third quarter provided a template for how they might be competitive in his absence.The Pacers maintained defensive force, kept the 76ers from getting anything easy and turned defense into offense in a dominant third quarter to take a commanding lead. They opened the period on a 17-0 run to take a 69-62 lead, denying the 76ers a basket until LeBron James hit a 3-pointer with 6:05 to go in the period. The Pacers took a lead as great as 13 points, outscoring the 76ers 36-13 in the period. They held Philadelphia to 5 of 21 shooting for 0.54 points per possession and made 13 of 23 field goals themselves. In the fourth quarter, however, the 76ers settled down and relied on their immense talent, and the Pacers seemed to run out of gas. The Sixers won the period 39-21, shooting 12 of 20 from the floor while the Pacers were 6 of 20 including 0 of 7 from 3-point range. Tyrese Maxey scored 15 points in the period with a pair of dagger 3-pointers in the last two minutes. However, the fact that the Pacers were able to dominate for even one quarter was a surprising development given the roster they had available.Pascal Siakam puts Pacers on his back to keep them in itHaliburton’s hamstring strain put Pascal Siakam back in the position in which he spent most of last season, having to carry the offensive load against opponents who knew he had to take the lion’s share of the shots.But just as he was even in the doomed 2025-26 season, Siakam was game for the challenge and his efficiency kept the Pacers in the game until the final minutes. Siakam’s mid-post game was brilliant as he slipped past defenders for layups and hit them over the top with turnaround jumpers in the lane. He finished with 26 points on 11 of 17 field goals and nine of his makes were in the lane. Siakam was also a force on defense, making James’ life difficult as James finished 5 of 12 from the floor. Siakam was also huge on the glass with 11 rebounds, 10 on the defensive end.Andrew Nembhard posts double-double in Tyrese Haliburton’s absenceAndrew Nembhard found himself back in the lineup on Wednesday after missing Monday’s game with stiffness in his neck and upper