Sixers Cruise Past Wizards Behind Maxey’s Scorching Night and Bench Dominance
On the second night of a back-to-back, the Washington Wizards leaned on hustle and grit to keep things competitive early-but it didn’t last. With several regulars sidelined due to injury or rest, Marvin Bagley III and Justin Champagnie stepped into starting roles and made an immediate impact on the glass.
The duo combined for five offensive rebounds in the first quarter, helping Washington stay within striking distance. They finished with seven offensive boards total, but the Sixers had other plans.
Philadelphia took control in the second quarter, building a 15-point lead that the Wizards briefly trimmed to five in the third. But then the floodgates opened.
The Sixers closed the third on a tear, ballooning the lead to 24 by the end of the quarter, and stretching it to as much as 36 in the fourth. A late push from Washington’s bench trimmed the final score to a 19-point margin, but make no mistake-this one was over well before the final buzzer.
The Sixers were so comfortable that neither Tyrese Maxey nor Paul George needed to touch the floor in the fourth quarter. And that’s saying something, especially considering how electric Maxey was all night.
Maxey Torches Wizards, Again
Tyrese Maxey continues to look like one of the league’s most dynamic guards, and against Washington, he put on a performance that felt like vintage Gilbert Arenas-explosive, efficient, and completely in command. Maxey dropped 35 points, dished out six assists, and swiped four steals-all in just 29 minutes. He didn’t just score; he dictated the game’s tempo and flow, slicing through Washington’s defense with ease.
And when Maxey sat, the Sixers’ bench didn’t miss a beat.
Bench Mob Delivers
Jared McCain came off the bench and gave Philly a major boost, scoring 14 points and handing out five assists. But the real story was the impact he had on the scoreboard-Philadelphia was +37 in his 25 minutes.
That’s not a typo. The Sixers were dominant with McCain on the floor, and it wasn’t just him.
Adem Bona, despite grabbing just five rebounds, posted a staggering +26 in 21 minutes. His presence defensively and ability to move without the ball helped open up the floor for Philly’s second unit. Dominick Barlow also chipped in with efficient scoring and floor spacing, adding to the Sixers’ depth advantage.
Wizards’ Defensive Effort Wasn’t the Issue
Oddly enough, defense wasn’t Washington’s biggest problem. The Sixers posted an offensive rating of 118-solid, but only slightly above their season average.
In fact, Washington’s defensive rating was nearly six points better than their season norm. They just had no answers for Maxey, and honestly, they’re not alone there.
The real issue? Offense. Or the lack thereof.
Washington shot just 44.9% on effective field goals, hit only 25% from beyond the arc, and coughed the ball up 15 times. Those numbers tell the story. Here’s how their offensive rating broke down by quarter:
- Q1: 115 (nearly league average)
- Q2: 96
- Q3: 89
- Q4: 93 (boosted by garbage time)
The offense sputtered after the opening frame, and things never really stabilized.
Paint Protection and Defensive Communication
Just like in their recent win over the Bucks, the Wizards aimed to protect the paint-but it didn’t quite translate this time. Philadelphia outscored them 54-44 inside, and a few defensive habits came back to bite Washington.
There was a lot of ball-watching, particularly from off-ball defenders, and too much over-helping. Kyshawn George was a prime example-he repeatedly left his man one pass away to help on Maxey, which opened up clean looks from three.
Another recurring issue? Communication.
There were multiple breakdowns on switches, with one defender thinking they were switching while the other stayed home. Those lapses gave Philly too many uncontested opportunities.
Bright Spots in the Loss
Marvin Bagley III was a force on the offensive glass and added some rim protection with five blocks. He altered several other shots as well, showing more defensive activity than usual.
Will Riley made the most of his extended minutes, scoring 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting, with four rebounds, an assist, and a steal in 26 minutes. That’s a big leap from his previous high of 12 minutes, and he looked comfortable in the expanded role.
Justin Champagnie continues to make a case for a bigger role. He’s consistently active, rebounds well, and brings energy on both ends. With Khris Middleton getting minutes when available, Champagnie’s path to a full-time starting job isn’t clear-but based on performance alone, he’s earned consideration.
Four Factors Breakdown
Here’s how the teams stacked up in the four key statistical areas that often decide games:
| Stat | Wizards | 76ers | League Avg |
|---|
| eFG% | 44.9% | 53.4% | 54.4% | | OREB%| 29.6% | 26.0% | 26.4% |
| TOV% | 14.7% | 9.8% | 13.1% | | FTM/FGA | 0.261 | 0.118 | 0.222 |
The Wizards actually held the edge in offensive rebounding and free throw rate, but their poor shooting and high turnover rate wiped away any advantage.
Individual Player Metrics
Let’s take a quick look at standout performances from both teams, using advanced metrics like Offensive Rating (ORTG), Usage Rate (USG), and Plus Points (+PTS), which measures how much value a player added compared to league-average efficiency on the same number of possessions.
Wizards Highlights
- Marvin Bagley III: 26 mins, ORTG 151, PPA 171, +3.2 +PTS - Strong two-way effort.
- Will Riley: 26 mins, ORTG 163, PPA 148, +3.3 +PTS - Efficient and poised.
- Malaki Branham: 11 mins, ORTG 149, PPA 311 - Small sample, but impactful.
Wizards Struggles
- CJ McCollum: ORTG 78, -4.6 +PTS - Struggled to create offense.
- Cam Whitmore: ORTG 48, -6.5 +PTS - Tough night from the field.
- Bub Carrington: ORTG 67, -7.0 +PTS - Couldn’t find rhythm.
Sixers Highlights
- Tyrese Maxey: ORTG 141, USG 37.2%, +5.7 +PTS - Simply dominant.
- Adem Bona: ORTG 233, +2.5 +PTS - High-impact minutes despite low usage.
- Dominick Barlow: ORTG 160, +3.0 +PTS - Quietly efficient.
Final Takeaway
The Wizards fought early, but the Sixers' firepower-led by Maxey and a deep bench-proved too much. Washington's defense showed flashes of improvement, but offensive inconsistency and communication breakdowns on the other end of the floor made it a long night.
For the Sixers, this was a statement of depth and dominance. When your stars can rest an entire quarter and the bench still builds the lead, you're in a good place.
And when Tyrese Maxey is playing like this? You're in a very good place.