Maxey's explosive 43-point game powers the 76ers past the Lakers.©(@YahooSports)
Tyrese Maxey delivered a stellar performance with 43 points, leading the Philadelphia 76ers to a 118-104 achievement over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday evening. Playing without injured stars Joel Embiid and Paul George, the Sixers relied on Maxey’s offensive brilliance to remain in contention for a play-in tournament spot. The reigning NBA Most Improved Player continued his impressive scoring streak, averaging 30.4 points over the last ten games and reaching 41 points by the end of the third quarter. He finished the night shooting 15-of-26 from the field, including four three-pointers, extending his career-best streak of 25-point games to 11. Courtside spectators, including several NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles members, cheered as Maxey dominated.
LeBron James led the Lakers with 31 points, but Los Angeles suffered a significant setback when Anthony Davis exited in the first half due to an abdominal muscle strain. The Lakers, missing a key piece of their lineup, struggled to keep pace with Philadelphia down the stretch.
In Atlanta, Jalen Green fueled the Houston Rockets with 25 points, including 12 in the third quarter, guiding them to a 100-96 win over the Hawks. Houston built a commanding 96-80 lead late in the fourth quarter following Green’s steal and layup. Still, Atlanta staged a furious comeback, cutting the obligation to two topics in the final minute. Alperen Sengun contributed 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Rockets, who secured their fourth consecutive victory after an impressive road win in Boston the night before. Dillon Brooks and Amen Thompson each added 11 points. Trae Young paced the Hawks with 21 points and nine assists, but Atlanta dropped its sixth straight game, its longest skid.
Playing without Stephen Curry, the Golden State Warriors defeated the Utah Jazz 114-103 in San Francisco. Dennis Schroder stepped up with 23 points and five three-pointers, while rookie Brandin Podziemski provided a spark off the bench with 20 points, seven rebounds, and six assists. Andrew Wiggins added 19 points, and Kevon Looney grabbed 11 rebounds as the Warriors capitalized on Utah’s 26 turnovers. Collin Sexton led the Jazz with a season-high 30 points, but Utah suffered its seventh successive failure and 10th defeat in its last 11 games. Curry, dealing with tendinitis in both knees, was held out as a precaution, but Warriors head coach Steve Kerr expects him to return Wednesday against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
In Portland, Deni Avdija delivered a season-high 30 points, helping the Trail Blazers secure a 125-112 win over the Milwaukee Bucks in Damian Lillard’s return to his former home. Anfernee Simons chipped in with 25 points as Portland defeated for the fifth time in six games. The Blazers created a 19-point lead in the fourth quarter and never looked back. Giannis Antetokounmpo posted a dominant performance with 39 points and 12 rebounds, but Milwaukee struggled in the latter stages, playing its third game in four nights. Lillard, making his second appearance in Portland since being traded to Milwaukee before the season, finished with 20 points. The Bucks initially took control with a 47-35 lead in the second quarter, but the Blazers rallied to go ahead 64-61 at halftime and extended their lead to 82-73 in the third quarter on a three-pointer by Shaedon Sharpe.
The night’s action showcased standout individual performances and pivotal wins as playoff races and postseason positioning continued to take shape across the league.