NBA: 76ers use third-quarter burst to handle Wizards
James Harden #1 and Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers speak during the first quarter against the Indiana Pacers at Wells Fargo Center on October 24, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images/AFP
Tyrese Maxey poured in a team-high 28 points, James Harden went for a double-double and the Philadelphia 76ers completed a four-game road trip with a third straight win Monday night, defeating the Washington Wizards 118-111.
In the opener of a home-and-home series that continues Wednesday at Philadelphia, the 76ers were able to prevail despite the absence of Joel Embiid due to an illness and a game-high 32 points from Washington big man Kristaps Porzingis.
The teams battled to a 52-all halftime tie and the Wizards had a nose in front at 71-68 after a Bradley Beal dunk with 5:08 remaining in the third period.
But the 76ers exploded from there, scoring the next nine points to go up six, then the final nine points of the period after a Rui Hachimura basket.
Montrezl Harrell had seven points, Harden and Tobias Harris had four apiece and Georges Niang hit a 3-pointer in the 18-2 burst that sent the 76ers into the final period with an 86-73 advantage.
Seeking to end a two-game losing streak, the Wizards got within 116-111 on a 3-pointer by Porzingis with 33.8 seconds remaining.
But Harden hit two clinching free throws 9.6 seconds later to ice the victory.
Maxey shot 12-for-22 en route to his fifth game this season with 20 or more points.
Harden finished with 23 points to go with 17 assists, the most in an NBA game this season. He also found time for a team-high seven rebounds.
James Harden was serving up DIMES in the @sixers win, tying a career-high with 17 dimes! #BrotherlyLove
🔔 @JHarden13: 23 PTS, 7 REB, 17 AST, 2 STL pic.twitter.com/xSrPlDywWA
— NBA (@NBA) November 1, 2022
Harris and De’Anthony Melton chipped in with 16 points apiece, P.J. Tucker had 13 and Niang finished with 12 for the 76ers, who outshot the hosts 56.1 percent to 46.9 percent.
Porzingis made 10 of his 17 shots and also grabbed a team-high nine rebounds for the Wizards, who opened 3-1 but have now fallen to 3-4.
Beal totaled 20 points, Monte Morris added 19, Anthony Gill chipped in 11 and Hachimura contributed 10 for Washington, which outrebounded the 76ers 41-36.
