76ers Highlights: Maxey Shines in Win vs. Rockets
On Friday night, the Philadelphia 76ers traveled to the Toyota Center to take on the Houston Rockets, as they continued their four-game road trip.
The Sixers would be without Joel Embiid for the third straight game, as he continues to recover from an ankle injury suffered last week, and his absence was felt in the first quarter as the Sixers struggled falling behind, 26-32.
In the opening quarter, the Rockets' Fred VanVleet came out shooting, dropping 11 points, which includes three makes from beyond the arch.
Despite outscoring the hosts in the second quarter, thanks in part to an explosive quarter from Tyrese Maxey, the Sixers still found themselves down by one point.
The third quarter would follow the opening two quarters, with both teams going on runs, with the Rockets finding great success towards the end of the period, remaining on top, 97-90.
The fourth quarter would provide fans with back-and-forth basketball, up until the final minute in which the Sixers would get a firm grasp on the game, leaving Houston with the win.
With their leading scorer out, Nick Nurse's side needed a spark on the offensive end, luckily Maxey would more than answer the call.
Against the Rockets, Maxey would drop 42 points, breaking the 40-point mark for the first time since his career-high 50-point game against the Indiana Pacers earlier in the season.
Maxey found the bottom of the basket through a multitude of ways, including several cutting runs to the basket, a career-high 14 shots from the free throw line, as well as two shots from beyond the arch.
The 23-year-old wasn't the only Sixer to put on an offensive display against the Rockets as Tobias Harris continued his recent run of form.
The 31-year-old would come up big, scoring 22 points, while also proving to be a force on the defensive end, recording four steals.
His 22-point outing continues to add to his recent highlight reel, as he averaged 27 points on 50 percent shooting going into Friday night's match.
Marcus Morris Sr. would be a menace for his former team in the closing quarter, as the veteran dropped ten points, including a three-point shot that put his team ahead by five.
Following Friday night's win, Philadelphia will travel to the United Airways Center, where they're set to take on the Bulls on Saturday night.
