The 76ers’ hunt to avoid the play-in was hit with a steady boost with Tyrese Maxey’s career-high 52 points leading them to a 133-126 double overtime win over the Spurs in San Antonio.
With Joel Embiid sitting out, Maxey broke his previous career-high of 50 hitting on 19 of his 41 field goal attempts and going 12-of-12 from the line to go along with seven assists and five rebounds.
He joins Embiid and Wilt Chamberlain as the only 76ers to ever put up 52+ points and 7+ assists in a game.
It proved a duel between young stars with soon-to-be Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama putting up 33 points, 18 rebounds, six assists and seven blocks of his own.
The 20-year-old joins Kareem Adbul-Jabbar as the only other player in NBA history to reach those marks in a game.
Maxey was flanked by Kelly Oubre (26 pts, 8 reb, 5 ast), Paul Reed (11 pts, 10 reb, 5 ast), and Ricky Council IV (11 pts, 4 stl, 4/5 FG).
The 76ers jumped out to an early lead which grew to as high as 14 in the second quarter before San Antonio’s fightback began.
The Spurs put together a 35-8 run to take a lead into the half before a back-and-forth second half saw the two teams deadlocked at the end of regulation.
The 76ers eventually got the job done in the second overtime to snag their 44th win of the season.
Malaki Branham (22 pts, 5/8 3P) enjoyed a strong night for the Spurs along with Julian Champagnie (17 pts, 8 reb) and Tre Jones (17 pts, 8 reb, 9 ast).
The Spurs are back in action in Memphis on Wednesday whilst the 76ers face the Pistons the same day.
