Tyrese Maxey delivered another monster performance, pouring in 39 points as the Philadelphia 76ers stormed back late to defeat the short-handed Los Angeles Clippers 110-108 on Monday night. Paul George returned to action for the first time this season, finishing with nine points and seven rebounds in 21 minutes after offseason left knee surgery.
Quentin Grimes added 19 points and Andre Drummond dominated inside with 14 points and 18 rebounds while starting in place of Joel Embiid, who missed his third straight game due to right knee injury management, his eighth absence in 13 outings this season.
James Harden scored 28 points and became the 11th player in NBA history to surpass 28,000 career points with a first-quarter layup, but the Clippers dropped their eighth game in nine tries. Already without Kawhi Leonard for a seventh straight game (ankle/foot sprain), L.A. also missed Derrick Jones Jr., who injured his knee Sunday in Boston.
The Clippers controlled much of the night and led 91-81 early in the fourth after an Ivica Zubac jumper. But the Sixers roared back with a 14-3 run in under three minutes, taking a 95-94 lead on a Maxey layup. From there, it stayed tight.
Drummond knocked down two clutch free throws to push Philadelphia ahead 110-106 with 1:08 remaining. Kobe Sanders trimmed it to two with a pair at the line, and moments later officials overturned a foul on Maxey after a Clippers challenge, ruling it a clean Kris Dunn steal, giving L.A. a final chance.
Harden couldn’t capitalize, missing two potential game-winning threes in the closing seconds as Philadelphia held on.
The Sixers were also without Kelly Oubre Jr. (knee sprain) and Adem Bona (ankle sprain).
Up Next
*Clippers: At Orlando on Thursday.
76ers: Host Toronto on Wednesday.*
