Tyrese Maxey Shines, Sixers Cruise Past Wizards in Bounce-Back Win
After a grueling double-overtime loss to the Hawks on Sunday, the Sixers returned to the floor Tuesday night looking for a reset - and they got exactly that. With Joel Embiid sidelined, Tyrese Maxey took the reins and never let go, leading Philadelphia to a convincing 121-102 win over the shorthanded Wizards at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
The victory moves the Sixers to 11-9 on the season and gives them a much-needed momentum boost ahead of Thursday’s matchup against the Warriors.
Let’s break down the key takeaways from a night where the Sixers’ depth, energy, and young talent were on full display.
Maxey in Control from Start to Finish
Tyrese Maxey looked like a man on a mission. After turning the ball over six times in Sunday’s marathon loss, he came back with a clean sheet - zero turnovers - and a stat line that jumped off the page: 35 points, six assists, four steals, and four rebounds. More importantly, he looked completely in command of the offense.
Maxey dictated the tempo, picked his spots with precision, and found the seams in Washington’s defense all night. Whether it was getting downhill, pulling up in rhythm, or facilitating for teammates, he looked every bit the floor general the Sixers need when Embiid isn’t available.
And the best part? He only needed 29 minutes to do it - a season-low for the NBA’s minutes leader. That’s a win in itself.
Bench Sparks Early Momentum
With Embiid, Quentin Grimes, Kelly Oubre Jr., and Trendon Watford all out, head coach Nick Nurse leaned heavily on his bench - and they delivered.
Paul George opened the night aggressive, knocking down a pair of catch-and-shoot threes. But it was the second unit that really turned the tide. Justin Edwards, Jared McCain, and Adem Bona were all on the floor within the first six minutes, and they wasted no time making an impact.
McCain came in firing, drilling a three off a baseline out-of-bounds set and finishing a pair of strong drives to the rim. Edwards, who had been ice-cold from deep over the past week (4-for-24 in his last seven games), finally saw a couple threes fall, a much-needed confidence boost.
Bona’s contributions won’t show up in the box score, but they were felt. He forced a backcourt violation with relentless pressure and kept possessions alive with hustle plays that set the tone for the rest of the night.
Edgecombe’s Energy Turns the Tide
The Wizards opened the third quarter with a quick 7-0 run, threatening to make things interesting. But freshman phenom Edgecombe had other plans.
His energy was contagious. Back-to-back offensive rebounds led to a Paul George three and a Dominick Barlow and-one. Just like that, the Sixers were back in rhythm.
Edgecombe’s athleticism and motor gave the Sixers the jolt they needed to break the game wide open. He played with a level of intensity that made it impossible for the Wizards - playing the second night of a back-to-back - to keep pace.
The Finish Line Comes Early
By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, the Sixers had built a 26-point cushion. Maxey took a seat to start the final frame and never had to return. Neither did the rest of the regulars.
Andre Drummond added some flair with a put-back dunk and even splashed a corner three - a rare sight, but fitting on a night where everything seemed to be going the Sixers’ way. The lead ballooned to as many as 36 points, and rookies Johni Broome and Hunter Sallis got some valuable run to close things out.
It was the kind of low-stress, high-efficiency win that teams love to bank during the grind of an 82-game season.
What’s Next
With their stars getting some rest and the bench showing real signs of growth, the Sixers will look to carry this momentum into Thursday’s home game against the Warriors. If Maxey continues to play with this kind of poise and production - and the supporting cast keeps stepping up - Philadelphia could be finding its stride at just the right time.