Tyrese Maxey Scores 38 Points as Philadelphia 76ers Beat Charlotte Hornets 109-104
The victory arrived on the second night of a back-to-back for Philadelphia, which rested James and Embiid following a 98-93 victory over the New York Knicks in an NBA Cup game.
Spectrum Center Sellout Crowd Witnesses Star-Free Battle
A sellout crowd of 19,533 spectators attended the matchup in Charlotte, though supporters did not see James and Embiid take the floor, as Associated Press noted. Jaylen Brown entered the starting lineup as a game-time decision and contributed 16 points for the 76ers. Philadelphia shot 40 percent from beyond the arc, which helped offset a difficult night at the free-throw line where the team converted 15 of 23 attempts.
For Charlotte, Grayson Allen scored 27 points off the bench by shooting 7-for-10 from 3-point range, while Brandon Miller added 24 points with five 3-pointers. The Hornets also played on the second night of a back-to-back while managing roster absences, remaining without point guard Coby White due to a calf injury and shooting guard Kon Knueppel due to a hamstring injury, according to Associated Press.
Late-Game Momentum Shifts and Decisive Free Throws
Charlotte gained a late advantage when Miller blocked a layup attempt by V.J. Edgecombe with five minutes remaining, then delivered a bounce pass to Moussa Diabate for a pick-and-roll dunk that pushed the Hornets ahead 97-90. Philadelphia responded as Simons contributed two baskets to trim the deficit.
Philadelphia 76ers 109–104 Charlotte HornetsGrayson Allen: 27 PTS, 4 REB, 3 AST, 7 3PMBrandon Miller: 24 PTS, 5 REB, 5 AST, 2 STL, 5 3PMNaz Reid: 14 PTS, 5 REB, 2 ASTMoussa Diabate: 10 PTS, 8 REB, 3 AST, 2 BLKRoyce O'Neale: 8 PTS, 6 REB pic.twitter.com/3oNOAchYgg
Maxey gave the 76ers the lead for good with 1:22 remaining by converting two free throws. Edgecombe extended the margin to 105-101 with a 3-pointer from the left wing. After Charlotte’s Sion James missed an uncontested layup with 24 seconds left, Maxey added two more free throws to push the lead to six. Miller answered with a basket with seven seconds remaining, but Brown secured the win by sinking two free throws with 5.2 seconds left.
Upcoming Games for Philadelphia and Charlotte
The Philadelphia 76ers return home to host Chicago on Monday night. Meanwhile, the Charlotte Hornets continue their homestand by hosting the Detroit Pistons on Monday night, as reported by Associated Press.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 76ers-Hornets Matchup
Why did LeBron James and Joel Embiid not play for Philadelphia?
The 76ers rested both players on the second night of a back-to-back after they featured in a 98-93 NBA Cup victory over the New York Knicks the previous evening, according to Associated Press reporting.
Who were the leading scorers for each team off the bench?
Grayson Allen led the Charlotte bench with 27 points on 7-of-10 shooting from beyond the arc, while Anfernee Simons provided 19 points as a reserve for Philadelphia, as detailed by Associated Press.
What injuries sidelined players for the Charlotte Hornets?
The Hornets played without point guard Coby White due to a calf injury and shooting guard Kon Knueppel due to a hamstring injury, according to Associated Press.
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