NBA: 76ers use third-quarter burst to handle Wizards
Tyrese Maxey took the team’s top 28, James Harden scored a brace and the Philadelphia 76ers completed the four-game road trip with a third straight win Monday night, beating the Washington Wizards 118-111.
In the opening game of the home series that continues on Wednesday in Philadelphia, the 76ers were able to prevail despite the absence of Joel Embiid due to illness and 32 points behind Washington bigwig Kristaps Porzingis.
The teams fought to a 52 draw in the first half and the Wizards took the lead 71-68 after a Bradley Beal dunk with 5:08 remaining in the third inning.
But the 76ers exploded from there, scoring the next nine points for a six-point gain, then the final nine points of the period following a slam dunk from Rui Hachimura.
Montrezl Harrell had seven points, Harden and Tobias Harris had four each and Georges Niang hit three in the 18-2 series that put the 76ers into the final half with an 86-73 advantage.
Looking to end a two-game losing streak, the Wizards were trailed by Porzingis in 116-111 with 33.8 seconds remaining.
But Harden hit two free throws 9.6 seconds later to score the victory.
Maxey shot 12 to 22 en route to his fifth game of the season by 20 or more points.
Harden finished with 23 points and 17 assists, the most in an NBA game this season. He also found time for the team’s top seven bounces.
James Harden served DIMES in @sixers Win, raise your career with 17 dimes! #Brotherhood
@ JHarden13: 23 PTS, 7 REB, 17 AST, 2 STL pic.twitter.com/xSrPlDywWA
– NBA (@NBA) November 1, 2022
Harris and De’Anthony Melton won by 16 points each, PJ Tucker had 13 and Niang finished with 12 for the 76ers, who outstripped the hosts by 56.1% to 46.9%.
Porzingis made 10 of his 17 shots and also got nine rebounds for the Wizards, who opened 3-1 but have now fallen to 3-4.
Beal scored a total of 20 points, Monte Morris added 19, Anthony Gill scored 11 and Hachimura contributed 10 points for Washington, overcoming the 76ers 41-36.
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