The Philadelphia 76ers were able to overcome the Indiana Pacers 137-126, winning their eighth straight game. Despite Indiana’s 39-point third quarter, and their excellent chemistry and blistering pace, the Sixers were able to overcome them and move themselves to an 8-1 record on the season.
Tyrese Maxey was the leading scorer for Philadelphia with 50 points, followed by Joel Embiid with 37 points. Tyrese Haliburton led the Pacers with 25 points and 17 assists. The Sixers’ next game will be against the Pacers on Tuesday, Nov. 14th.
Tyrese Maxey is the Best Tyrese
Tyrese Maxey is an incredible. He is outstanding. He is unfathomably good at the game of basketball. We are nothing less than blessed every time he takes the court for Philadelphia. The fourth-year guard set a career-high 50 points in the 11-point victory. He shot a highly efficient 20/32 from the field while shooting 7/11 from beyond the arc with a steady mix of floaters, drives, spot-ups, and stepbacks. In a game that featured the reigning MVP, Maxey easily stole the show and was the driving force behind Philadelphia’s win.
Coming into this season we knew Tyrese Maxey would be charged with taking on a significantly higher workload. We, as fans, knew that Maxey would step up to this new role willingly and with enthusiasm, but even the most optimistic didn’t think Maxey would make the jump quite like this. 50 points, seven rebounds, five assists, three blocks, and only two turnovers is easily the best game of Maxey’s young career.
Many fans were hoping Maxey could turn into an All-Star this season, but the player nicknamed “The Franchise” could very well make an All-NBA team this year.
Joel Embiid: MVP Favorite
It’s obviously a little too early to talk about the MVP award. After all, the Sixers have only played nine games this season. However, the Sixers’ star just casually dropped 37 points, grabbed 13 rebounds, dished out seven assists, and recorded one block and one steal en route to eight straight wins after an opening-night loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Not many players can score 37 points and make it seem routine. The fact that he also was able to dish out seven assists, while sending a message to the league that he and Maxey are a force to be reckoned with is just the cherry on top. The MVP award is never won in the first nine games of the season, but Joel Embiid looks like he should be the early odds-on favorite to win the award.
Nicolas Batum’s Starting Case for the Sixers
With Kelly Oubre Jr. missing tonight’s contest recovering from broken ribs, Nicolas Batum stepped into the starting lineup for Philadelphia. The 16-year NBA vet who came over in the James Harden trade has been a consistent cornerstone for the Sixers thus far and tonight was no different.
While his numbers may not be eye-popping with 9 points and 7 rebounds, he is a fundamentally perfect compliment to the Sixers’ offense. A true stretch 4 who grabs rebounds and provides good if not great defense throughout the game. His veteran instincts, mixed with excellent shooting (3/5 from deep tonight), make Batum an excellent piece to add to the starting lineup. With Kelly Oubre set to miss “significant time,” Batum should become a full-time starter.
