Tyrese Maxey scored a career-high 51 points to help the Philadelphia 76ers snap a four-game losing streak with a thrilling 127-124 win over the Utah Jazz on Thursday in Salt Lake City.
Hours after being named an NBA All-Star reserve, Maxey proved he belongs among the league’s elite by making 17 of 27 field goals, hitting seven 3-pointers and going 10-for-11 from the free-throw line. Two of those free throws came with 4.1 seconds remaining.
Joel Embiid missed the game for the 76ers after suffering a lateral meniscus injury in his left knee in Tuesday’s game against Golden State, the team announced earlier in the day. Embiid will be sidelined indefinitely as the team explores options for treatment.
Tobias Harris added 28 points for the 76ers and Kelly Oubre Jr. scored 16, including three 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, to boost Philadelphia as it wrapped up a five-game road trip.
Lauri Markkanen had 28 points and 10 rebounds, but the Jazz, who trailed by as many as 12 points, couldn’t complete the comeback while losing a third consecutive game.
Utah, playing at home for the first time after a six-game trip, has now lost six of the last eight games.
Markkanen tied the score at 117 with a 3-pointer and then Collin Sexton gave Utah a 120-117 lead with 2:32 remaining.
Maxey, who had missed the previous three games with a left hamstring injury, then drained a 33-foot 3-pointer on a play that was set up by a blocked shot on the other end by Oubre.
Patrick Beverley then put Philadelphia up for good with a clutch 3-pointer with 40 seconds left.
The Jazz got within one, but Harris hit two free throws with 5.8 seconds remaining to give the Sixers a three-point lead.
Beverley sparked an 11-0 run late in the first half that helped the 76ers go into the locker room up 71-61.
Maxey started the game on fire, opening the scoring with a 3-pointer. He finished the first quarter with 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting as Philadelphia led 39-32. He finished with 32 points in the half.
–Field Level Media
