Observations after Maxey nearly posts triple-double in Sixers’ win over Mavs originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Tyrese Maxey was just two rebounds shy of his second career triple-double Thursday night in Dallas.
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He led the Sixers to a 123-108 victory at American Airlines Center by tallying 34 points, 10 assists, eight rebeounds and two steals.
The Sixers improved to 18-14 this season and 2-2 on their five-game road trip. Dallas dropped to 12-23.
VJ Edgecombe posted 23 points, five rebounds and four steals. Joel Embiid had 22 points, six assists and four boards.
Kelly Oubre Jr. (left knee LCL sprain) and Trendon Watford (left adductor strain) were still out for the Sixers.
The Sixers are now 2-2 on their road trip and will close it out Saturday night against the Knicks. Here are observations on the team’s win over the Mavs:
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Defense late to the party again
For the third straight game, the Sixers’ stops were minimal in the early going.
Dallas began 9 for 10 from the floor and took a 20-14 lead when Cooper Flagg burst forward for a fast-break jam.
The Sixers gave the Mavs far too many opportunities to score inside and allowed 26 first-quarter points in the paint. Overall, the Sixers’ defense has not been stellar this season in first quarters. Ahead of Thursday night’s game, here’s the team’s defensive rating by quarter:
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First quarter: 119.4 (22nd in NBA)
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Second quarter: 109.6 (Fourth)
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Third quarter: 123.6 (30th)
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Fourth quarter: 104.3 (First)
Across the Sixers’ last three games, their opponents have combined to start a staggering 25 for 27 from the field (92.6 percent).
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Sixers’ stars key big, entertaining second quarter
Offensively, the Sixers’ stars flowed together nicely and spearheaded an excellent second quarter.
Maxey sped past Caleb Martin and laid the ball in as his former teammate stumbled to the floor. Embiid assisted a Quentin Grimes corner three. Paul George drove through the Mavs’ defense and threw down a dunk that delighted his teammates.
The Sixers went up 11 points late in the second quarter when Edgecombe drained a long-range jumper. Edgecombe was one of the Sixers’ four double-figure scorers in the first half. Grimes added eight second-quarter points, too.
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Edgecombe is up to nine 20-point games in the NBA, including six over his last eight outings.
Grimes plays important part in Sixers closing it out
The Sixers used five players off the bench. Grimes logged 38 minutes as their sixth man.
Justin Edwards was the odd man out and Jabari Walker returned to the rotation after Dominick Barlow picked up two early fouls. Andre Drummond got the first crack at backup center minutes, but Adem Bona assumed that role in the second half and also got a stint next to Embiid for the last 84 seconds of the second quarter.
Barlow never escaped his foul trouble and ultimately committed his sixth personal with 7:33 left in the fourth quarter. Bona replaced him.
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As they had in their Dec. 20 loss to the Sixers, the Mavs shoot poorly from three-point territory, going 6 for 28. Even without much three-point assistance, Dallas cut its deficit to 94-90 on a Naji Marshall leaner early in the fourth quarter.
The Sixers then produced a stretch of big-time shotmaking across the board.
Maxey kept delivering driving buckets and had a true do-it-all performance. Embiid buried a tightly guarded mid-range jumper, Grimes made a wing three and the Sixers’ lead was soon back in double digits.
Grimes played his best game in weeks with 19 points on 7-for-9 shooting, seven rebounds and two assists.
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Edgecombe’s hustle and defense shined as his team neared the finish line, Grimes nailed an important jumper to snap a late 7-0 Mavs run, and the Sixers gave themselves a shot at a winning road trip.
