At a Glance
- Tyrese Maxey nearly records a triple-double, scoring 34 points, 10 assists, 8 rebounds, and 2 steals.
- Sixers beat the Mavs 123-108, improving to 18-14 while Dallas drops to 12-23.
- The defense falters early, allowing 25 of 27 first-quarter points and a 6-for-28 three-point effort by Dallas.
- Why it matters: Maxey’s performance keeps the Sixers on a winning road trip and highlights defensive issues that could cost them later.
Tyrese Maxey nearly reached a triple-double as the Philadelphia Sixers defeated the Dallas Mavericks 123-108 on Thursday night. The 34-point, 10-assist effort came in a game where the Sixers’ defense struggled early but the team rallied to secure a 2-2 road-trip record.
Maxey’s Near Triple-Double Powers Sixers
Maxey finished with 34 points, 10 assists, 8 rebounds, and 2 steals, just two rebounds shy of his second career triple-double. He led the Sixers to a 123-108 victory, while Joel Embiid added 22 points, 6 assists and 4 rebounds.
- Tyrese Maxey: 34 pts, 10 ast, 8 reb, 2 stl
- Joel Embiid: 22 pts, 6 ast, 4 reb
- VJ Edgecombe: 23 pts, 5 reb, 4 stl
- Quentin Grimes: 19 pts, 7-for-9, 7 reb, 2 ast
Defense Woes and Late-Game Resilience
The Sixers allowed 26 points in the paint in the first quarter and posted a defensive rating of 119.4, ranking 22nd in the NBA. In the fourth quarter they improved to 104.3, the best in the league.
- First quarter: 119.4 (22nd)
- Second quarter: 109.6 (4th)
- Third quarter: 123.6 (30th)
- Fourth quarter: 104.3 (1st)
| Quarter | Defensive Rating | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 119.4 | 22nd |
| 2nd | 109.6 | 4th |
| 3rd | 123.6 | 30th |
| 4th | 104.3 | 1st |
Key Contributions from the Bench
The bench supplied 38 minutes of play from Quentin Grimes and 38 minutes from other rotation players. Dominick Barlow struggled with foul trouble, while Adem Bona filled in on the frontcourt.
- Quentin Grimes: 38 minutes, 19 pts, 7-for-9 shooting
- Dominick Barlow: foul trouble, 6th foul at 7:33
- Adem Bona: replaced Barlow in second half, played 84 seconds with Embiid
Key Takeaways
- Maxey nearly achieves a triple-double, fueling the Sixers’ 123-108 win.
- Defensive struggles early; the team improved in the fourth quarter.
- Bench depth, especially Grimes, was crucial to closing the road trip.
With a 2-2 road-trip record, the Sixers will face the New York Knicks Saturday night, hoping to maintain momentum and address defensive lapses.
