The Philadelphia 76ers paid a visit to the Charlotte Hornets on Halloween night looking to keep things moving in the right direction. Playing on the second night of a back-to-back, the Sixers were without Joel Embiid and LeBron James after both players played on Friday night, which made it a tough challenge against a feisty Hornets team.
After a slow start as a team, the Sixers were able to kick it into high gear and make it a game while on the road. After some back-and-forth action, Philadelphia was able to do just enough to walk out of Spectrum Center with a 109-104 win for its third straight win as it ended the game on a 15-3 run. Tyrese Maxey had 38 points for the Sixers on the night.
Anfernee Simons added 19 points, Jaylen Brown had 16 points, four
rebounds, and four assists, and VJ Edgecombe added 10 and eight rebounds. Jabari Walker returned from injury and had 12 points and six rebounds off the bench.
Here are the player grades following the win:
Tyrese Maxey: A
The only Sixer to really get things going in a positive direction offensively, Maxey carried this group in the early going. He was terrific off the bounce as he was able to get to his spots, make life miserable for the Hornets, and kept Philadelphia afloat until others were able to figure it out. Charlotte has been a pretty solid defensive team to begin the season, but the Hornets were grasping at straws trying to slow down Maxey. His overall offensive production combined with his willingness to get his teammates involved was important in this one. Philadelphia would have had a long night if it weren’t for his production. He threw the Sixers on his back in order for them to get the job done in this one.
VJ Edgecombe: B-minus
The second-year guard knocked down a 3 and then got to the basket for a bucket to get things moving for Philadelphia in the early going. He then was able to help on the glass and give the Sixers some solid defensive moments. He had a tough time getting into any type of rhythm on the offensive end, but once again, he drilled a clutch 3-pointer to make sure Philadelphia would pull out the win. No matter what the situation is, he continues to make big plays.
Jaylen Brown: C-plus
Making his return to the floor after missing Friday’s win in the NBA Cup, Brown got off to a tough start. He missed his first five shots, had a turnover, and missed a free throw as well as the Hornets built their lead. After the slow start, Brown was able to make some things happen on both ends as he came alive to give Maxey come help on the offensive end. Overall, he didn’t shoot the ball with much efficiency, but he was able to make some positive plays in order to be a positive presence on the floor. One has to wonder if that knee issue was bothering him in this one.
Dean Wade: A-minus
Again, Wade didn’t score a bunch of points, but his presence was felt. He was active on the defensive end of the floor, was helpful on the glass, made plays with his passing, and came up with some steals to help the Sixers get out and run. It’s impressive to see Wade switch between defensive assignments and give Philadelphia the production it needs on the floor. He was terrific with his playmaking in this one despite missing his 3-point looks. He made some critical defensive plays in the fourth.
Adem Bona: C-minus
Receiving the start in this one, Bona had a tough time on the glass as Charlotte was able to control the rebounding edge in the early going. He grabbed some critical offensive rebounds to help Philadelphia gain some extra possessions. However, Bona had some tough moments in the second half as he continues to try and find his groove this season.
Anfernee Simons: A
The initial stint for Simons saw him knock down another 3 and he also made plays defensively. Not known much for his defensive work, it was refreshing to see him make an impact on that end of the floor and give Philadelphia some help on both ends. Overall, Simons continued his hot streak as his 3-point efficiency in this one was critical for Philadelphia as it needed the offensive production.
Jabari Walker: A
Making his return to the floor, Walker had some good moments off the bench. He is such an aggressive rebounder and somebody who the Sixers can rely on in to make plays on the glass and on the defensive end. He made a difference against Hornets big man Naz Reid and was able to produce on both ends of the floor. His work on the offensive end in the second half was huge for this group.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope: B-minus
The Sixers were able to get instant offense from Caldwell-Pope as he knocked down a corner triple, but he also committed a couple of tough turnovers. Overall, KCP got after it on the defensive end and helped on the glass.
Labaron Philon Jr.: B-plus
The rookie got a look early in this one and he found ways to produce. He knocked down a triple, put his head down, got into the paint, and made life easier for his teammates. Philon has a clear understanding of how to play this game and the Sixers will continue to look for more minutes for him as they move forward.
Justin Edwards: Incomplete
Seeing his first minutes of the season against a bigger Hornets team, Edwards had a non-descript first stint in the first half. He only played two minutes in this one.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Player grades: Tyrese Maxey leads Sixers over Hornets on the road
