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Maxey scores 45 points to push the 76ers over the Pacers
Utah

Maxey scores 45 points to push the 76ers over the Pacers

Tyrese Maxey of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts during an NBA victory over the Indiana Pacers (Justin Casterline)

Tyrese Maxey of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts during an NBA victory over the Indiana Pacers (Justin Casterline)

Tyrese Maxey scored 10 of his 45 points in overtime to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to their first win of the NBA season, a hard-fought 118-114 triumph over the Indiana Pacers on Sunday.

Philadelphia struggled in its first two games with former NBA Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid sidelined due to injury and newly signed nine-time All-Star Paul George’s Sixers debut delayed due to a knee injury.

But Maxey ensured they made it to the winning streak by overcoming early shooting woes to come through when it mattered most.

Maxey made just two of six shots in the first half and missed his first seven attempts in the third quarter before finding the touchdown and hitting a 10-foot jump shot with 2.3 seconds left to give Philadelphia a 79-78 lead The start of the fourth quarter gave .

Maxey scored 14 points in a fourth quarter that featured 10 lead changes. It went into overtime when Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton fired a three-pointer to make it 105-105 with 3.5 seconds left and Maxey missed the target with a three-pointer at the buzzer.

Maxey made a three-pointer to open overtime and the Sixers never trailed. His big night came after he shot just 29.6% from the field in the first two games.

“I wasn’t so disappointed with my offense the last two games, our offense overall – it was our performance,” Maxey said. “I allowed my offense to affect my defensive performance.

“Today I just gave it my all on defense, somehow got going and we benefited from that.”

Caleb Martin added 17 points and 12 rebounds. Kelly Oubre had 14 points and eight rebounds and Andre Drummond scored nine points with 17 rebounds.

Haliburton led the Pacers with 22 points – one of seven Indiana players to score in double figures.

The Portland Trail Blazers and Brooklyn Nets celebrated their first wins of the young season: Portland defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 125-103 and Brooklyn fended off Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks 115-102.

Jerami Grant scored 28 points and Anfernee Simons added 27, while all five Portland starters scored in double figures. DeAndre Ayton scored 17 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for the Blazers, who never trailed in the second half.

CJ McCollum led the Pelicans with 27 points, with Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram contributing 14 each.

Portland’s win came two days after the Pelicans earned a two-point victory after trailing the Blazers by double digits at halftime.

In Brooklyn, Cam Thomas scored 32 points and Dennis Schroder added 29 to give the Nets their first win under Spanish coach Jordi Fernandez.

The Nets emerged from a back-and-forth third quarter with an 83-78 lead and pulled away in the final frame with the help of 11 points from Thomas.

Two-time NBA MVP Antetokounmpo scored 22 points and grabbed 12 rebounds and Damian Lillard added 21 points for the Bucks, who have dropped two straight after winning in the season opener.

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