Tyrese Maxey scored a career-high 50 points to lead a Philadelphia 76ers team shaken by the traffic accident involving forward Kelly Oubre to a convincing 137-126 NBA victory over the Indiana Pacers on Sunday.
Oubre suffered a broken rib and other injuries when he was struck by a vehicle while walking near his Philadelphia home on Saturday. He was treated at the hospital and released, but he was in his teammates’ minds Sunday.
“It’s nothing to do with me, it’s all Kelly Oubre, man,” Maxey – whose previous career high was 44 points – said after making 20 of 32 shots from the field, including seven on 11 three-pointers. .
He added seven rebounds and five assists and reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid added a double-double of 37 points and 13 rebounds as the Sixers notched their eighth straight victory.
Embiid scored 19 points in the first quarter and the Sixers led by as many as 19 en route to a 69-60 halftime lead.
The Pacers, led by 25 points from Tyrese Haliburton and 22 from Myles Turner, continued to chip away and took a one-point lead on Aaron Nesmith’s layup with 10:45 left in the fourth quarter.
The 76ers, however, responded with an 18-6 score to regain control.
In Los Angeles, Desmond Bane scored 27 points to help the Memphis Grizzlies earn their second win of the season, a 105-101 victory over the Clippers.
The Grizzlies have struggled with star Ja Morant’s 25-game suspension set to extend through December. But they managed to hold off a Clippers team that was still trying to find the best use of new acquisition James Harden.
The Clippers have now lost five games in a row, including four since the former league MVP arrived in a trade from Philadelphia.
“I’ve seen some intriguing things but we just have to be better,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said, adding that the team’s offense lacked energy.
“We can’t just wander around offensively,” he said.
Harden scored 11 points and made a three-pointer that tied it at 98-98 with 1:33 left. But a free throw from Bismack Biyombo put the Grizzlies back on their feet once and for all.
Paul George led the Clippers with 26 points. Russell Westbrook added 12 points, nine rebounds and five assists on his 35th birthday.
In Brooklyn, Mikal Bridges scored 27 points to lead the Nets in a 102-94 victory over the Washington Wizards.
Nic Claxton returned after missing eight games with a sprained ankle, scoring 10 points with 13 rebounds and four blocked shots for the Nets, who had 20 offensive rebounds and scored 21 second-chance points compared to seven for the Wizards.
The New York Knicks, powered by 24 points from RJ Barrett and 23 from Julius Randle, cruised to a 129-107 victory over the Charlotte Hornets.
LaMelo Ball led the Hornets, scoring 32 points with seven rebounds and six assists.
