A win is a win: Sixers get it done against the Jazz, 106-102 final

Drew Smith
March 5, 2026
Sixers
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The Sixers beat the Utah Jazz 106-102 on Wednesday night at Xfinity Mobile Arena, improving to 34-28 with a performance that was exactly as messy as you would expect from a team missing Joel Embiid, Paul George, Kelly Oubre, and VJ Edgecombe on the second night of a back-to-back, against an 18-44 opponent.

Tyrese Maxey had 25 points and six assists. Jabari Walker had 22 points and 10 rebounds. Quentin Grimes hit the clutch free throws that ultimately sealed it. Keyonte George dropped 30 for Utah and nearly made everyone miserable.

The Sixers’ first quarter was actually encouraging

start us off, rese! pic.twitter.com/SShshrmclr
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) March 5, 2026

The Sixers came out with defensive energy that was nowhere to be found against the Spurs the night before, held the Jazz to 4-for-18 from the field, and built a 14-point lead. Maxey picked off a pass in the backcourt and turned it into quick points and the Sixers looked like a team that understood the assignment.

Then halftime came and they came out of the locker room and surprise, surprise, the Sixers did the thing they always do.

Utah went on a 10-0 run to open the third quarter. The Jazz took a four-point lead when George cut backdoor on Grimes for an and-one.

The Sixers trailed by as many as eight in yet another third quarter that completely erased whatever goodwill they had built. Nick Nurse burned a timeout.

Everyone watching at home made a face they have made many times before. It is past the point of feeling like déjà vu at this point. It just feels like the Sixers.

The real story of the night was Jabari Walker. After dropping 20 in garbage time against the Spurs on Tuesday, he reportedly joked that he wished he did not have to leave the arena and sleep.

He came back Wednesday and drained four three-pointers, scoring 15 points in his first seven minutes off the bench. Walker has been a rebounding and energy guy throughout his career but he can clearly shoot and the second half of this season might be the stretch where that becomes a real part of his game.

three for three from three 🤑

cc: @JabariWalker pic.twitter.com/0mrWbaetWR
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) March 5, 2026

Kyle Lowry played nine minutes for the first time since February 9th. At 39 years old and largely serving as a roster placeholder at this point, his stint was what it was.

Grimes made the two free throws that mattered most with 16.4 seconds left. Walker grabbed the defensive rebound after Filipowski missed a go-ahead three and sealed it at the line. A nervy, ugly, thoroughly unimpressive win over a tanking Jazz team that should have been easier than it was.

put-back bona 😤 pic.twitter.com/1amg1Ol5ps
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) March 5, 2026

The Sixers head to Atlanta to face the Hawks on Saturday. They need to find a way to string some wins together before Embiid gets back and the real games start meaning something again.