Observations after Sixers snap skid, Maxey scores 39 in blowout win originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
The Sixers tasted their first win in nearly two weeks Sunday night.
Facing the prospect of a five-game losing streak, they earned a 135-108 victory over the Timberwolves at Target Center.
Tyrese Maxey was fantastic with 39 points and eight assists. VJ Edgecombe added 24 points and seven rebounds.
Anthony Edwards’ 28 points led the 35-23 T-Wolves.
Joel Embiid sat out his fifth game in a row with an official designation of “right shin soreness and right knee injury management.” The Sixers announced Sunday that rookie Johni Broome suffered a right knee lateral meniscus tear while playing for the Delaware Blue Coats.
Minnesota’s absences included the suspended Rudy Gobert and Naz Reid (right shoulder soreness).
The 31-26 Sixers will conclude their three-game road trip with a Tuesday matchup against the Pacers. Here are observations on their win over Minnesota:
Attacking outside of Maxey
The Sixers didn’t begin like a team primed for a turnaround win.
Maxey committed two early turnovers. Edwards hit a corner three-pointer to give the Timberwolves an 8-1 lead.
On a positive note, the Sixers got good, no-nonsense drives in the opening minutes from Dominick Barlow, Edgecombe and Kelly Oubre Jr. The Sixers need that consistently in games without Embiid where opposing defenses are especially keyed in on Maxey. Other players often have opportunities to drive downhill minus a typical paint presence.
In Minnesota, those aggressive rim attacks helped the Sixers create a bit of early T-Wolves foul trouble. They soon wiped out their deficit.
Grimes on his game
The Timberwolves turned to small ball and zone defense about six minutes into the game. Sixers head coach Nick Nurse stuck with conventional centers, including an extended stint for Adem Bona.
That decision panned out. Edgecombe beat the zone twice with long-range jumpers. Quentin Grimes also sunk a couple of first-quarter threes.
As a whole, the Sixers had a strong shooting start. Maxey’s pull-up three in the final minute of the first quarter put his team up 35-26.
With Maxey watching, Grimes and Cameron Payne shared a backcourt early in the second quarter. Grimes was excellent, shining both on and off the ball and playing confident, instinctive basketball.
Following a driving Grimes bucket, Payne swiped a backcourt steal and nailed a three to stretch the Sixers’ lead to 16 points. The team had a 19-5 bench scoring advantage in the first half.
The star guards did tons of scoring, too; Maxey and Edwards each tallied 19 first-half points. A Maxey and-one runner with 36.4 seconds left in the second quarter gave the Sixers a 68-56 lead.
No trouble on Maxey’s watch
The Sixers had a string of empty possessions early in the third quarter.
They saw a shot go down again when Maxey stuffed in an emphatic lefty dunk and then stared down Edwards. Credit to Maxey for leaving nothing to chance when the Sixers — a notoriously poor third-quarter team — sorely needed a make.
He kept on scoring and the Sixers bumped their lead back into double figures. Maxey circled his way around and through Minnesota’s defense before hitting a floater at the third-quarter buzzer, meaning the Sixers earned an uncommon win in the third period by six points.
Edgecombe also provided ample self-created offense on a night he shot 6 for 7 from three-point range. Grimes (19 points, seven assists) went 5 for 8 beyond the arc. Again, Maxey had a pleasant viewing experience at the start of the fourth quarter as Edgecombe and Grimes grew the Sixers’ lead over 20 points.
The Sixers prevented the Timberwolves from causing any late-game scares. After beginning the day on a losing streak, they’ll have a good shot at a winning road trip Tuesday against the 15-43 Pacers.