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A Theo Maledon three-pointer dropped by way of the underside of the web with lower than three minutes to play, and an uncharacteristically subdued crowd briefly turned stressed.
However then the 76ers shortly restored order, when Tobias Harris hit a shot past the arc and Maxey adopted with a driving layup.
The Sixers overcame a listless begin (and end) — and obtained 25 factors and a season-high 19 rebounds from Joel Embiid — to beat the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, 100-87, Friday night time on the Wells Fargo Heart.
“I simply didn’t suppose we might make a shot,” coach Doc Rivers mentioned. “I don’t know what number of photographs we had on the rim tonight, [but] nothing was going. I appreciated a whole lot of the issues we have been doing.”
The sport was plopped within the ready interval earlier than James Harden’s much-anticipated arrival in Philly following Thursday’s blockbuster trade that sent Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond and two first-round draft picks to the Brooklyn Nets. Harden and veteran ahead Paul Millsap, whom the Sixers additionally acquired within the deal, are additionally not anticipated to play Saturday towards Cleveland whereas they endure physicals and different protocols to finish the commerce.
» READ MORE: Can the Sixers win an NBA title with James Harden? Doc Rivers says yes, but…
Embiid, like his crew, overcame a sluggish 3-of-12 begin from the ground to complete with the hearty stat line that additionally included 4 assists and 5 blocks. He got here into the postgame press convention together with his proper wrist wrapped, and mentioned he first seen his “complete hand was fairly swollen” when he wakened Wednesday.
Maxey added 24 factors on 9-of-14 capturing and 5 rebounds, regardless of being on a 30-minute restriction after getting into Friday listed as questionable to play towards the Thunder resulting from hamstring tightness.
The Sixers (33-22) gained regardless of capturing simply 38.7% from the ground. They’d made simply 13 of their first 45 field-goal makes an attempt late into the second quarter, earlier than an offensive rebound and dunk by Harris ignited a surge to create distance.
Maxey adopted Harris’ bucket with a transition end and coast-to-coast reverse layup proper earlier than the halftime buzzer put the Sixers up 46-41 on the break. Matisse Thybulle then began the third quarter with a steal and fastbreak dunk, earlier than Maxey added a three-pointer to increase the Sixers’ result in 51-41.
That benefit later grew to 16 factors on an Embiid and-1 end and free throw with lower than a minute to play within the third quarter, then to 19 on a three-pointer by Danny Inexperienced that made the rating 85-66 with about eight minutes remaining earlier than the Thunder’s last run.
Shake Milton was again on the ground for the primary time since Jan. 3 (again contusion) and regarded like a participant who wanted to regain his stride. Milton missed eight of his 9 photographs, together with a baseline dunk try that rimmed off, and completed with 4 factors, 4 rebounds and two assists in 25 minutes.
“It’s powerful whenever you get injured throughout the season, as a result of there’s no option to play,” Rivers mentioned. “ … You can’t replicate [game minutes]. I’ve at all times mentioned, whenever you come again in the midst of the yr, these guys are rolling now. these guys have rhythm. They’re enjoying, and also you’re coming in attempting to determine it out.”
Milton entered the sport to provide Maxey a relaxation and run the purpose with the second unit at in regards to the five-minute mark of the primary, second and third quarters. He additionally performed temporary stretches on the finish of every of the primary three intervals, and the beginning of the second and fourth, alongside Maxey. Rivers conceded he most likely performed Milton too many minutes.
Regardless of the capturing struggles, Milton’s presence helped solidify a guard rotation that has been out of whack for weeks. With Curry gone and Harden but to reach, Korkmaz began Friday’s sport at capturing guard however didn’t have to deal with the ball and provoke offense as a lot as in latest video games. Isaiah Joe, who has been within the rotation some as of late, didn’t play till the Sixers emptied their bench within the last minute.
» READ MORE: Tyrese Maxey is excited to play with James Harden: ‘I just can’t wait’
Rivers acknowledged earlier than Friday’s sport that backup heart Andre Drummond was a late addition to the commerce with the Nets, and that the Sixers would discover the buyout marketplace for a alternative.
However that doesn’t assist the Sixers instantly. Friday night time, second-year massive man Paul Reed obtained these minutes behind Embiid. He completed with six factors on 3-of-7 capturing and 7 rebounds in 13 minutes.
Reed’s most eye-popping second got here for all of the flawed causes, when, after an athletic steal, he missed a breakaway reverse dunk try and fell down in a sequence worthy of Shaqtin’ a Idiot. Apart from that, although, Rivers was happy with Reed’s outing.
“We’ll watch the movie tomorrow for a joke,” Rivers mentioned of the dunk snafu. “However that’s why I didn’t take him out. He was enjoying nice. He’s the primary one which knew that was the dumbest play of the night time, proper? So I didn’t inform him something.”
Reed went 1-of-4 from the ground in seven first half minutes, however did contribute three rebounds and performed stable protection. Proper after checking in late within the first quarter, he collected a dive-on-the-floor steal and block on Thunder guard Ty Jerome inside that led to a Milton bucket.
Throughout his second-half stint, Reed threw down a dunk to begin the fourth quarter. He additionally tipped out an offensive rebound that led to a Georges Niang three-pointer.
“What Paul did tonight is what we’ve been attempting to get him to do,” Rivers mentioned. “He simply stayed in his lane. He didn’t attempt to do an excessive amount of. He was stable, aside from the dunk try.”
Rivers additionally mentioned after the sport that, if and when the Sixers use Millsap, it is going to possible be at heart.
» READ MORE: Harden trade makes Sixers favorites in the East
The Sixers first acknowledged Thursday’s commerce in a extra delicate approach, eradicating clips of Simmons, Curry and Drummond and altering the music for his or her pregame intro video.
However halfway by way of the second quarter, a video montage of Harden clips in his Thunder, Rockets and Nets jerseys performed — earlier than ending with an edited photograph of him in a blue No. 1 Sixers jersey. Naturally, it drew a rousing ovation from the group.
At one level throughout the third quarter, a fan sporting a purple No. 13 Harden Artesia Excessive Faculty jersey walked previous the seats beneath the Sixers’ basket.
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