Tobias Harris and Tyrese Maxey star in 76ers overtime victory against the Memphis Grizzlies

A wild game that went into overtime ends in the 76ers beating the Grizzlies by a final score of 122-119. These two teams went at each other back and forth all night and it took an extra five minutes to decide a winner. Even while missing Joel Embiid, the 76ers were able to take down one of the best teams in the league with an effort headlined by Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris who combined for 64 points. This game came down to the final seconds and it ended with a Matisse Thybulle outlet pass off of a loose ball and a layup to seal the victory by Maxey.
Tobias Harris
With Joel Embiid missing tonight’s game, the 76ers looked to Tobias Harris to lead the way on the offensive end, and he did just that. He put together a really nice first half where he scored 18 points, and he ended the game with 31/5/5 on 12/25 from the field.
Harris has looked so much better recently compared to the start of the season. He knocked down open shots from deep, dominated in the mid range and facilitated well. This is the type of confident player that made him an All-Star candidate last year and this type of performance should make the Sixers feel much better about themselves going forward.
Tyrese Maxey
Right out of the gate Tyrese Maxey brought energy and asserted himself offensively. With 11 first quarter points he immediately set the tone for the rest of the evening. He put the final nail in the coffin on the last play of the game en route to a 33 point performance. Just an incredible performance from this kid, he took control all night and just absolutely balled out, he just continues to impress in any role he’s put into.
He scored confidently from all three levels, whether it was an off the dribble three, pull up mid range, or attacking the rim it didn’t seem to matter. He showed up defensively as well, he blocked four shots and made Thybulle-esc type defensive plays throughout this game. It directly impacted his offense too because of how quickly he gets up the floor. He was able to be a reliable scorer even when the Grizzlies adjusted to what was working for him early on. Maxey went toe-to-toe with Ja Morant in this game, which is impressive in its own right.
Andre Drummond
The Grizzlies came into the league as one of the most prolific rebounding teams in the league, and Drummond was graced with the majority of the rebounding responsibility. He capitalized on the opportunity with grabbing 23 rebounds to go with 16 points and five assists. These are the nights where we can appreciate having Drummond, he plays 42 minutes and contributes heavily to a win as the starter. He still showed his limitations as a pick and roll defender, Morant diced him the entire second half, but this was still a very solid performance from Drummond.
Other Contributors
Outside of those three scorers the only other player in double figures was Isaiah Joe with 10 points, but every player contributed in their own way. Matisse Thybulle capped off the night with a great, heads up play to secure the victory, but he also did a great job on Ja Morant defensively in the first half. Seth Curry struggled all night, but came alive in the fourth quarter with nine points and helped keep Philadelphia in the game.
Up Next
With this win the Sixers notch their 5th straight victory, and this one without Embiid and against an opponent that has been terrorizing the league. Arguably their best win of the season and keeps them in third place in the Eastern Conference. They stay at the Wells Fargo Center for the final game of their homestand to face the Wizards on Wednesday.
Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
When Maxey plays like this, and Joel is IN the game, they’re gonna have a monster. As he develops, he won’t defer as much. Every game TM plays, BS mental condition a little worse!!
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