Your 3-0 Philadelphia 76ers took their unbeaten record on the road Tuesday night to take on the Washington Wizards. The Sixers would remain without the services of Jared McCain and Paul George, but Tuesday night would be the Sixers debut
for Trendon Watford who is back healthy after a hamstring injury that had sidelined him to this point of the season. Joel Embiid was back in the lineup for the Sixers after sitting out last night’s game on the first leg of the back-to-back.
Tyrese Maxey picked up right where he left off in last night’s game. Maxey knocked down 4-of-6 from the field and 3-of-4 from beyond the arc in the first period in route to 12 first quarter points. A combination of poor Sixers defense and hot shooting from the Wizards in the first quarter put the Sixers in a 40-32 hole after one. Alex Sarr led the Wizards in the first quarter with a game high 13 points.
10 points from Joel Embiid paced the Sixers in the second period. Embiid went to half with a team high 18 points in just 11 minutes of action. The Sixers gave up a season high 72 first half points to the Wizards. Two VJ Edgecombe three pointers late in the quarter, including a four-point play with 0.9 seconds left cut the Sixers margin to just four. The Wizards led 72-68 at the intermission.
The Sixers defensive struggles continued in the third quarter as the Wizards poured it on. The Sixers looked to be on the second night of a back-to-back, just a step slow defensively, and having some open shots fall short on the other end. The Wizards seemingly could not miss in the third period. Hot shooting from deep, along with Sixers defensive breakdowns, gave the Wizards a 110-94 lead at the end of the third quarter.
The Sixers scratched and clawed their way back to single digits on multiple occasions throughout the fourth quarter. The defensive intensity ratcheted up for the Sixers, but the Wizards continued to make timely shots to stimy the Sixers comeback threat, it seemed. A Quentin Grimes three followed up by a Grimes steal and Maxey jumper cut the Wizards lead to just three with 1:16 to go in the game. A Quentin Grimes block followed up by a huge Grimes three tied the game at 126 all. The Sixers closed the quarter on a 10-0 run to send this one to overtime!
The Wizards scored the first five points of overtime, jumping out to a quick 131-126 lead. The Sixers would respond with the next six points, taking a 132-131 lead on an Adem Bona putback dunk with 27.6 seconds remaining in the extra frame. The final 27.6 seconds belonged to Adem Bona, Bona rejected two straight Wizards attempts at the rim. Tyrese Maxey knocked down 5-6 free throws in the final seconds and Quentin Grimes knocked down 2-2. From down 19 points! SIXERS WIN 139-134!
Time for the Bell Ringer.
Tyrese Maxey: 39 points, 10 assist, 11-of-25 from the field, 14-of-16 from the free throw line
We are running out of words to be able to highlight Tyrese Maxey brilliance so far this season. Maxey was once again phenomenal in this one pouring in 39 points and dishing out 10 assists for his first double-double of the season. Maxey scored 23 of his 39 points in the 4th quarter and overtime. Even on the second night of a back-to-back, where it was clear legs were heavy, Maxey pulled through when his team needed him most. Maxey’s leadership and constant voice have been a constant so far in this Sixers season and his teammates are following his lead.
Joel Embiid: 25 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assist, 9-of-17 from the field, 3-of-6 from three, 22 minutes
Joel Embiid put together his best game so far of this young season. Embiid put in an efficient 25 points in just 22 minutes of play. Embiid was not his usual self defensively as he seemed to be a half step slow to contest and get in front of Wizards drivers. It was nice to see the big fella have his typical dominant output offensively as Sixers fans are well accustomed to over his career. The Embiid and Maxey two-man game was as vaunted as ever as the two displayed the chemistry that has made that one of the deadliest actions in basketball over the last several seasons. The ceiling of this team’s season will ultimately be determined by Embiid’s ability to return near his superstar form, tonight was a step in the right direction. Even with Embiid out for crunch time of this game he was heavily engaged with his teammates on the bench and seems to be fully bought in to current stages of his load management plan.
Quentin Grimes: 23 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assist, 3 steals, 2 blocks
It was not the best night efficiency wise from Grimes, but he stepped up when the Sixers needed him most. Grimes knocked down to huge threes to go along with two equally as important block shots in the final minutes of regulation to carry the Sixers into overtime. Grimes was able to get a great contest on a Khris Middelton jumper at the buzzer of regulation to thwart the Wizards game winning attempt. In overtime Grimes knocked down two free throws to ice the game with just four seconds to go. Grimes two-way play and timely shot making continue to be a valuable asset to all Sixers lineups.
Adem Bona: 2 points, 5 blocks, 5 rebounds
AIR ADEM BONA! Adem Bona was absolutely electric down the stretch of the fourth quarter and overtime. Bona recorded all five of his blocks in the final 7:18 of the fourth quarter and overtime. Every Bona was much needed as the Sixers charged forward on the comeback trail. Bona followed up a monster put back slam with 27.6 seconds remaining with two enormous rejections at the rim to preserve the Sixers lead and ultimately close the game. If there was ever a time that a player could be awarded the Bell Ringer with just one made basket it would be tonight. Bona’s virtuoso performance defensively to close this game was one to be remembered.
