NBA roundup: Tyrese Maxey shines with 45 points, leading the 76ers to victory against the Pacers
Tyrese Maxey contributed significantly to the Philadelphia 76ers' inaugural victory of the NBA season on Sunday, scoring 10 of his total 45 points during overtime in a closely contested 118-114 win against the Indiana Pacers.
The 76ers faced challenges in their initial two games, with former NBA Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid absent due to injury and the debut of newly acquired nine-time All-Star Paul George postponed because of a knee issue.
Maxey, however, ensured the team secured a win, overcoming early shooting difficulties to deliver when it was most crucial.
In the first half, he managed only two successful shots out of six attempts and missed his first seven tries in the third quarter. Nevertheless, he regained his shooting form, hitting a 10-foot jump shot with just 2.3 seconds remaining, which allowed Philadelphia to take a 79-78 lead heading into the final quarter.
During a fourth quarter marked by 10 lead changes, Maxey scored 14 points.
The game proceeded to overtime after Indiana's Tyrese Haliburton tied the score at 105-105 with a three-pointer with 3.5 seconds left, while Maxey's attempt at a buzzer-beater fell short.
Maxey opened the overtime period with a three-pointer, ensuring the Sixers maintained the lead throughout. His impressive performance followed a challenging start to the season, where he had shot only 29.6% from the field in the first two games.
"I wasn't particularly disappointed in my offensive performance over the last two games, but rather in our overall effort," Maxey stated. "I allowed my offensive struggles to impact my defensive effort."
"Today, I focused on giving maximum effort defensively, which helped me find my rhythm, and we reaped the benefits."
Caleb Martin contributed 17 points and 12 rebounds, while Kelly Oubre added 14 points and eight rebounds. Andre Drummond also made his mark with nine points and 17 rebounds.
Tyrese Haliburton led the Pacers with 22 points, contributing to a balanced scoring effort with seven Indiana players reaching double figures.
The Portland Trail Blazers and Brooklyn Nets achieved their inaugural victories of the season, with Portland defeating the New Orleans Pelicans 125-103 and Brooklyn overcoming Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks 115-102.
Jerami Grant led the Blazers with 28 points, while Anfernee Simons contributed 27, as all five starters for Portland scored in double figures. DeAndre Ayton added 17 points and secured 12 rebounds, helping the Blazers maintain a lead throughout the second half.
CJ McCollum was the top scorer for the Pelicans with 27 points, supported by Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram, who each scored 14 points. Portland's victory came just two days after the Pelicans had narrowly defeated them by two points, despite trailing by double digits at halftime.
In Brooklyn, Cam Thomas scored 32 points and Dennis Schroder contributed 29, leading the Nets to their first win under Spanish coach Jordi Fernandez. The Nets finished the third quarter with a slim 83-78 advantage and extended their lead in the final period, aided by 11 points from Thomas.
Two-time NBA MVP Antetokounmpo recorded 22 points and 12 rebounds for the Bucks, while Damian Lillard added 21 points. The Bucks have now suffered two consecutive losses following their season opener victory.
Oklahoma City improved to a perfect 3-0 record as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered an impressive performance with 35 points, 11 rebounds, nine assists, three steals, and three blocks, leading the Thunder to a 128-104 win over Atlanta. Chet Holmgren contributed 25 points, and Jalen Williams added 20, while Trae Young led the Hawks with 24 points, and 2024 NBA Draft prospect Zaccharie Risacher from France scored 13 points.
In Golden State, James Harden recorded 23 points and 11 assists, while Ivica Zubac added 23 points and 17 rebounds, guiding the Los Angeles Clippers to a 112-104 victory over the Warriors. Notably, Golden State's star guard Stephen Curry, a four-time NBA champion, exited the game in the fourth quarter due to a left ankle injury.
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