Tyrese Maxey goes off for 43 as Sixers win third straight over LeBron, Lakers

Despite being down Joel Embiid, Paul George and others, the Sixers got their third straight win as Tyrese Maxey’s great night pushes them over Lakers.

Don’t look now, but the Philadelphia 76ers are on a winning streak.

They picked up their third win in a row by knocking off the L.A. Lakers Tuesday night 118-104.

Tyrese Maxey turned in one of his best games of the season, leading all scorers with 43 points. He shot 15-of-26 from the field and 4-of-11 from three.

Kelly Oubre Jr. finished with 20 points and eight rebounds while Eric Gordon and Guerschon Yabusele both went for 14. LeBron James led the Lakers with 31 points.

Here are some thoughts from the Center.

First Quarter

• There were a lot of Lakers fans in the building and they were the only ones able to make noise early as the Sixers missed their first six shots of the game. The shot selection wasn’t very inspiring as they settled for a lot of pull-up jumpers.
• Maxey got one of his pull-ups to go, but most of the offense the Sixers could muster in the first was Yabusele being left open in the post. Those two were the only Sixers to score in the first. He didn’t quite top his poster from the Olympics, but Yabu did throw down an impressive dunk with Anthony Davis breathing right down his neck.

• L.A.’s offense didn’t fare any better as they struggled just as much shooting from outside — both teams each only made one three in the quarter. On the second night of a back-to-back, they went deep into their bench with some early Bronny James minutes. He had an assist, a turnover, and very much struggled to stay in front on Maxey. His dad was a bit more productive with a team-high eight and four. The opening quarter ended locked at 25 after a Yabusele put-back beat the buzzer.

Second Quarter

• Another Sixer finally got on the board as Gordon opened things up with a deep three. He followed it up with a drive to the hoop that was finished with an and-1. He hasn’t given the Sixers much defensively, but he was hustling tonight. LeBron tried to back him down into the post but ended up getting stripped.
• Maxey really got into a groove when he was able to get downhill in the first, and that continued when he checked back in. It seems like something he’s done more of recently is use drives like this to set up his midrange.

• The Lakers were down AD for the rest of the night as he was ruled out at halftime with an abdominal strain. Yabusele also took a trip to the locker room late in the second. He’s been dealing with knee swelling, but did return to the game.
• Not only did Maxey continue to cook, but he got plenty of help from his supporting cast once they got on the board. As a team the Sixers shot 67% and scored 48 points in the second. Oubre once again had success attacking the lane from right to left. Ricky Council IV also pressured the rim well, and knocked down a pair of threes from the corner. That helped the Sixers take a 16-point lead into the break.

Third Quarter

• The second half begun much like the first did. Yabusele returned and drove down the lane for a dunk, then Maxey got a couple of shots off the dribble to go. It wasn’t Justin Edwards’ best night offensively, but he was very disruptive at the top of the key, with three steals early in the third.
• Edwards did finally get a three to go down — and in LeBron’s face no less. Maxey got hot from the perimeter as well after doing most of his damage from two in the first half. The biggest sign that this might just be the Sixers’ night was when Gordon knocked down a logo three with a defender in his face.

• Speaking of youngsters getting to James, Adem Bona blocked his second layup of the night, both of which were attempted by LeBron. The Lakers had a harder time keeping pace now that Dalton Knecht wasn’t making all of his shots (he shot 4-of-4 for 13 points in the quarter). The Sixers led by 23 after three.

Fourth Quarter

• Bona made sure he included the whole family as he emphatically blocked a Bronny James layup attempt. On the other end his fake dribble handoff move was snuffed out, but he followed his own rebound and hit Council with a nice bounce pass for an open dunk.
• LeBron wasn’t ready to pack it in for the night as he ripped off 15 points to start the quarter, putting the Lakers in the bonus in under five minutes in the process. That was still only enough to just cut the lead under 20, and the Lakers shortly waved the white flag. Council capped things off with another big dunk, this time a reverse in transition.

• The Sixers are again right back in action as they take on the Sacramento Kings Wednesday night at home at 7 p.m. ET.