We’ve all seen it unfold like that before, right? Some Sixers games are beautiful while others are complete disasters. On Monday night in South Philly, the Sixers beat the Clippers 110-108 in a game that somehow managed to be both.
The Sixers trailed for most of the first 30 minutes, sleepwalking through another questionable performance from Nick Nurse’s offense, before Tyrese Maxey ripped the Clippers’ soul out and dragged Philadelphia to a much-needed win in Paul George’s long-awaited-but-not-exactly-thrilling Sixers debut.
Maxey finished with 39 points, flipping a rough first half into a takeover that reminded the Clippers and a certain former MVP exactly whose building they were in.
A Tale of Two Maxeys
For the first half, Maxey was stuck in mud. He had 12 points on 12 shots. The Clippers switched everything and threw Kris Dunn and Chris Paul at him, and he looked frustrated and out of rhythm. His threes were short, his runners bounced out, and the Sixers did not have the off ball cutting needed to help him.
Then came the second half. Once the 76ers finally started getting stops, Maxey got out in transition and everything flipped.
He put repeated pressure on the Clippers before they could set their defense, drew fouls, and slowly drained the lead one free throw at a time. By the fourth quarter, Maxey was slicing through tired legs and finishing around the rim like it was a skills challenge. The crowd went from half asleep to playoff level noise in minutes.
This is what a franchise player does.
When Plan A is broken, he finds Plan B and drags everyone else with him.
Quentin Grimes vs. James Harden
James Harden came in hunting. He dropped 17 points in the first quarter. Then Nick Nurse sent Quentin Grimes at him, and the game changed immediately.
Grimes fought through screens, stayed attached, and forced Harden into some of the worst second half shot attempts he has taken in years. Harden could not buy a rhythm possession. The Sixers do not win this game without Grimes, and that is not an exaggeration.
He also hit timely shots, moved the ball, and made the kind of winning plays this roster has been missing. It might not end up as his best stat line of the season, but it might already be his most important performance as a Sixer.
Paul George Debuts, Technically
Paul George getting back the court for the first time all year had to be the least hyped return in NBA history. To his credit, he opened the game with a three and early free throws before largely disappearing into a fog of rust and playbook confusion.
Welcome back Paul George, I guess
Nine points. 2-for-9 shooting. Some decent defense. Some awkward possessions. Not a disaster, just a debut from a guy who hasn’t played in nearly eight months. He’ll settle in, probably, maybe… whatever.
VJ Edgecombe:
The VJ Experience remains undefeated. Edgecombe hit a massive three late that helped seal the comeback. He also missed two free throws in crunch time that nearly sent the entire building into a collective medical emergency. Overall, Edgecombe scored 14 points on 6-13 shooting from the floor. He was 2-6 from beyond the arc, with six rebounds and six assists.
Andre Drummond
Drummond delivered 14 points and 18 rebounds in 38 minutes that looked like a PhD dissertation in chaos theory. It was messy. It was violent. It was necessary. Sometimes you don’t need aesthetics. All you need someone to grab the ball by any means necessary.
James Harden Trauma Ball
The Clippers got the ball back down two after a successful challenge overturned a foul on Maxey. Harden had two chances to hit a dagger three.
He missed both. Sixers win. South Philly exhales.
The Sixers won without Joel Embiid, Kelly Oubre Jr, and Adem Bona. Maxey was the best player on the floor. Grimes changed the trajectory of the game. Drummond dominated the glass. George took his first step toward what the Sixers hope he will become.
The Sixers move to 8-5 and will face the Raptors on Wednesday in South Philly.
If Maxey continues playing with this level of command, the Sixers can win games that start ugly, stay ugly, and end with the entire arena screaming. Monday night was proof of that.
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