The 76ers, even without their superstar, gave the Hornets a sting that they could not recover from on Monday night in Charlotte, leaving town with a 121-108 win.
Hornets star LaMelo Ball returned to the court after having to sit out the last seven games with a strained calf, finishing with a double-double, 15 points and 11 dimes in nearly 26 minutes of action.
Ball’s return meant the Hornets (7-19) finally had their preseason projected starting lineup on the floor together for the first time this season. However, that lasted a little more than three quarters as second-year forward Brandon Miller sprained his left ankle, with 8:20 left in the fourth, on a penetrating drive to the basket and did not return.
The Sixers came into this matchup shorthanded after recent news that they will be without Rookie of the Year frontrunner Jared McCain out of Duke, who is out indefinitely after suffering a torn meniscus in his knee. The torn meniscus is an injury that the Sixers have a ton of experience with, as big man Joel Embiid has suffered multiple injuries to his meniscus that have required surgery and caused him to miss significant time. The Sixers would also be without Embiid who will be re-evaluated again in one week after sustaining a sinus fracture in the Sixers’ most recent battle against the Indiana Pacers.
The contest started off as a quarter of runs. The 76ers raced out to an early lead that was countered by a Hornets surge and then responded to with another Sixers run that led to a Charlotte timeout midway through the first. The Sixers would end the quarter leading by eight, 31-23, after the opening frame. The tandem of Paul George and Tyrese Maxey were on fire, combining for 27 of the Sixers’ 31 points as George poured in 15 and Maxey 12.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Sixers two stars would pick up right where they left off and continue their onslaught in the second quarter. George passed ‘The Jet’ Jason Terry to move into 10th in NBA history on the all-time three pointers made list. The Sixers led at the half by a score of 53-49 behind 20 and 22 points respectively from George and Maxey.
Maxey, who is getting better every game, turned in one of his best performances of the season. He scored a game-high 40 points on 12-of-28 shooting and 6-of-12 from the great beyond. He also was an irritant and a disruptor on the defensive end of the floor, grabbing five steals to go along with his five rebounds and five assists.
It was great to see Maxey get hot from distance as the 76ers star guard has struggled by his lofty standards from downtown this season. Maxey also enjoyed the parade to the charity strike getting there 13 times knocking down 10, the majority of those coming in garbage time as the Hornets played the foul game in an attempt to get back into it late as the Sixers had extended their lead.
The only Sixers in franchise history with more 40-point games by age 25 than Maxey are Hall of Famer Allen Iverson and the ‘Round Mound of Rebound’, Charles Barkley.
George got it going early and often in this one. He put in a Sixers career-high 33 points on an efficient 13-of-20 from the field and 6-of-9 from 3-point range. George was not just a one-trick pony, making several key defensive stops in this one both on the ball and off the ball as a help defender and the Sixers defense is noticeably much more functional with him on the court.
Maxey and George became the first Sixers teammates in history to both go for 30 points and hit six three-pointers in the same game.
Miles Bridges had 24 points and Nick Richards added 19 points off the bench to lead the Hornets.
The 76ers host LaMelo Ball and the Hornets on Friday night.
The Hornets visit Jordan Poole and the Washington Wizards on Thursday night.
