The 76ers summer league team kicked off their mini-season tonight against the Dallas Mavericks. This was the first summer league stint for guys like Tyrese Maxey, Isiah Joe, and Paul Reed who all lost their rookie summer league to the pandemic. On top of that, Sixers fans got their first-ever look at Jaden Springer, Philly’s latest first-round draft pick.

The game started off rusty for both teams, which isn’t surprising from two groups full of young guys playing their game of the summer series. The 76ers summer league squad started off the game with just six points inside the first five minutes of the game, shooting 3-12 from the field. Jaden Springer may not have knocked a shot down in that time, but certainly, put shots up confidently from all over the court.

Then the golden son Isiah Joe decided to remind Sixers fans why Daryl Morey drafted him, shooting the lights out from deep early. Joe ended the first quarter action knocking down four out of five triples, including one four-point play to give the former Razorback 13 points. Combine that with a couple of Tyrese Maxey masterful and-one layups and a pair of knockdown threes off screens and the 76ers summer league squad led 31-14 after a quarter.

The second quarter continued to be all Philly on both ends of the court. The Mavs couldn’t buy a bucket as the 76ers summer league squad ran out to a 17-0 run that continued into the second quarter. Jaden Springer was finally able to knock down his first shot as a Sixer and even came up with a nice steal on the other end. Another Philly 2021 draft pick also looked great on the defensive end in the second quarter, Flip Petrusev. The Sixers’ second-rounder flashed his rim protection ability with a pair of nasty blocks early in his 76ers summer league debut.

Even with so many young Sixers flashing their talent early, nobody had a better first half than Tyrese Maxey. The former Kentucky Wildcat had everything going in the 76ers first summer league game. Maxey flashed his quickness and soft-touch going to the rim multiple times early, including a signature and-one layup to end the first quarter. Tyrese was also feeling himself from deep, hitting three shots from deep that even included a nasty step-back triple late in the second. Throw in a pair of nice assists and steals with 19 first-half points, and you’ve got a great half of basketball from Tyrese Maxey.

The Sixers ended the half up 57-31 over the Mavericks in their first summer league game. This game hadn’t been close since the opening few minutes, and that was in big part thanks to Isiah Joe and Tyrese Maxey. In fact, the two combined for more points than the entire Dallas team with 34 in the half.

The third quarter saw much more defensive dominance from the Sixers. The 76ers summer league team as a whole held the Mavericks to just 17 points in the third. On top of that, through three-quarters Dallas shot an abysmal 1-for-15 from deep. Paul Reed grabbed himself a pair of steals and a nice weakside block in the quarter too, showing everyone why he is the reigning G League MVP. Combine all of that with Jaden Springer’s defensive excellence shining through and it isn’t hard to see why the Mavericks struggled so much offensively. Philly ended the third still in full control, up 77-48.

76ers first-round draft pick Jaden Springer’s offensive struggles seemed to be all rust, as he flashed his offensive tool kit in the second half. Springer knocked down his first Sixers triple, his first Sixers and-one contested layup, and a nasty transition hesi all in the third quarter. Springer would finish the game in double-digits with 11. Everyone knew Springer’s talent on the defensive end, but to see him knocking down shots is a very positive sign.

The fourth quarter saw the 76ers summer league squad go a bit deeper into the bench with such a comfortable lead. Unfortunately, that didn’t mean we got to see the other Sixers’ second-round draft pick Charles Bassey play, as he sat the game out. Bassey is yet to sign his contract with Philly, and his agent advised him not to play according to Keith Pompey.

Another notable performance came from everyone’s favorite dunker Rayjon Tucker. Tucker had a couple of his signature high-flying dunks and ended the contest with a solid 12 points. The 76ers summer league team would cruise to a 95-73 win, blowing out the Dallas Mavericks. Tyrese Maxey led all scorers with 21 points, and Isiah Joe had 15 of his own knocking down half of his triples (4-8). Jaden Springer had a pair of blocks and finished with 11 points in his first game as a Sixers, and Paul Reed dominated the defensive end with three steals and four blocks in the win. The 76ers summer league squad will be back in action on Thursday at 9 against the Hawks.

Mandatory Credit: NBC Sports