Tyrese Maxey racked up 32 points that included eight in a rousing run over the final two and a half minutes as the short-handed Philadelphia 76ers held off the visiting San Antonio Spurs 111-106 on Monday in a gritty clash.
The 76ers won for the third time in four games despite losing former league MVP Joel Embiid to an ejection late in the first half. Philadelphia led by three points at halftime and by nine heading into the final quarter.
Victor Wembanyama’s 3-pointer with 3:10 to play gave the Spurs a 101-100 lead before Maxey drive to the hole for a layup to put Philadelphia back on top. San Antonio’s Chris Paul then canned a turnaround jumper that was answered by a steal and breakaway dunk by Maxey with 59 seconds remaining.
After a Spurs turnover, Maxey all but iced the game with a ringing 3-pointer with 29.8 seconds left to push the Philadelphia lead to four points. He added a free throw with 17 seconds left.
Maxey also took 10 rebounds in the win. Paul George hit for 19 points, Guerschon Yabusele had 17, Caleb Martin had 12 and Kelly Oubre Jr. tallied 10 for the 76ers.
Wembanyama led six Spurs in double-figure scoring with 26 points and added nine rebounds and eight blocked shots. Stephon Castle had 17 points, Jeremy Sochan, Julian Champagnie and Devin Vassell hit for 15 apiece and Paul scored 12 for San Antonio.
A fadeaway jumper from Castle was followed by consecutive blocked shots by Wembanyama that allowed San Antonio to carry a 20-19 lead after 12 minutes of play.
The game changed complexion completely when Embiid was ejected with 2:59 to play in the half after arguing a charge call and vehemently disagreeing with the call to the extent he was tossed out. The two free throws canned by Paul from the technical gave the Spurs a 39-35 lead.
Philadelphia ended the half on a 13-6 run capped by a 3-pointer by Yabusele with 37 seconds left to take a 48-45 lead to the break. Maxey and Yabusele had 11 and 10 points, respectively, before halftime to lead the 76ers.
Sochan and Vassell paced San Antonio with 11 points while Wembanyama racked up seven blocked shots in the first half.
–Field Level Media
