PHILADELPHIA -- within the days main as much as the delivery of the first-round collection between the 76ers and Toronto Raptors, the center of attention become on how constructive James Harden can be towards Toronto's long, switching protection.
In video game 1 on Saturday night, despite the fact, it changed into one other 76ers protect who stole the exhibit.
Tyrese Maxey's 38 facets, including a 21-factor explosion in the third quarter, helped vigour Philadelphia to a 131-111 victory in front of a sellout crowd of 20,610 at Wells Fargo middle. It become the latest emphatic reminder of simply how a long way Maxey has stepped forward in his 2d season.
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"His speed is an element," 76ers teach Doc Rivers mentioned. "We recognize that we need to maintain the use of him in area. Some nights, probably he'll power to pass. Tonight, it changed into him driving and getting to the basket and making photographs."
Maxey did plenty of that Saturday evening, going 14-for-21 from the box, together with 5-for-eight from 3-element latitude. while Maxey's speed become apparent remaining year as a rookie, it be his superior leap shot that has spread out his video game. He went from a low-volume, 30% three-factor shooter as a rookie to a 42% shooter on over 4 3-element makes an attempt per video game in 12 months 2.
On Saturday nighttime, Maxey confirmed off all sides of his game, pulling down pictures on the rim, tearing via Toronto's defense to get to the rim and attending to the foul line, the place he went 6-for-7.
The Sixers usually play slower than their opponents, however Maxey helped key their transition online game Saturday, as Philadelphia made a concerted effort to get out and run. There changed into no enhanced illustration of that than when Harden hit a streaking Maxey for a layup within the third quarter, like a quarterback hitting a large receiver on a go route.
"he's running, and also you bought to reward him," Harden said. "he is a fine finisher. He makes the appropriate play. So just attempting to try to get him to retain going."
Maxey's efficiency was only 1 of many superlatives for Philadelphia in the series opener. Harden nevertheless failed to have the variety of burst the 76ers would like to see in the paint, going 2-for-10 on 2-aspect shots, but he still comprehensive with 22 facets. a good deal of that became thanks to his signature step-returned three-pointers, and he finished 4-for-7 from three-point range. Harden additionally had five rebounds and 14 assists to only 1 turnover.
Joel Embiid, meanwhile, also struggled to hit photographs, going 5-for-15, but he become a physical presence inside, finishing with 19 points and 15 rebounds, including four offensive boards. He additionally had 4 assists and no turnovers.
"I imply, it begins really with me," Embiid mentioned. "not getting frustrated. I variety of invited the double and triple groups they stored sending at me all nighttime. simply making an attempt to make the correct play, something is going to get us the win. I observed it. Having played towards them for thus lengthy, mainly the equal educate, I type of know the way they believe and the way they need to play, certainly defensively, so I suppose it be all about me keep making the right performs time and again and over, and i thought tonight i was fairly good."
Tobias Harris, in the meantime, had 26 aspects on 9-for-14 shooting to move along with six rebounds and six assists, and Philadelphia as a team turned lots of the perceived advantages for Toronto getting into this series on their head. Philadelphia had only four turnovers as a crew compared with seven for the Raptors and held a ten-7 part in offensive rebounds -- two areas the Raptors had been anticipated to manage.
"It become a good online game in my view for some guys," Harden observed. "Then, for the team, issues that we said this past week, rebounding the basketball, no longer turning the basketball over and giving them opportunities, I believe we did a good job of that tonight."
After taking the reins in practising camp as the crew's starting aspect protect when Ben Simmons failed to demonstrate up after requesting a alternate, and then with ease slotting in next to Harden after Simmons changed into sent to Brooklyn, Maxey confirmed once again Saturday how elementary he has turn into to Philadelphia's title hopes.
"Tyrese is exceptional," Harris spoke of. "He has online game and he works his butt off.
"I suggest, he receives it. He understands that you just put the work in and remarkable issues ensue for you tonight. You comprehend, tonight was a testament to that."
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