Philadelphia, Pa
Maxey breaks out for 38 points, 76ers beat Raptors in Game 1
James Harden had 22 factors and 14 assists in his first Jap Convention playoff sport as a Sixer. Joel Embiid, the NBA scoring champion, had 19 factors and 15 rebounds. They mixed to solely make 11 of 32 pictures from the ground.
Tobias Harris scored 26 factors for the Sixers, attempting to get previous the second spherical for the primary time since 2001. They host Recreation 2 on Monday.
The opener belonged to Maxey. The 21-year-old Maxey is the youngest Sixer ever to attain at the least 30 factors in a playoff sport.
Sixers followers roared for “Maxey! Maxey! Maxey!” after every electrifying play — and he crammed a season’s price into the third as he dismantled the Raptors.
He swished a 32-footer late within the interval for a 20-point lead and despatched his teammates on the bench right into a frenzy. The Raptors have been surprised and had no reply for him: Maxey made 7 of 8 pictures general, each 3s and all 5 free throws in 12 minutes.
Pascal Siakam scored 24 factors for the Raptors, who misplaced rookie Scottie Barnes to an ankle harm to worsen what was already a depressing evening. OG Anunoby scored 20 and Fred VanVleet added 18.
The Sixers took management within the first 24 minutes and Maxey stepped on the gasoline within the third in opposition to a crew that received the season sequence 3-1 (with Embiid and Harden within the lineup for the final two).
Maxey, the 6-foot-2 bundle of vitality out of Kentucky, led the quick begin early with a pair of 3s and 10 fast factors that had the Sixers rolling with a double-digit lead.
The Sixers are Embiid and Harden’s crew, and as they go, so go the Sixers. However Maxey provides the 76ers a Large 2 3/4 and was extra than simply an ready substitute for the traded Ben Simmons.
Maxey emerged as a dependable scoring possibility — 18.7 factors and 48% on 3s after the All-Star break — and was on the right track from tipoff in opposition to Toronto.
He made 6 of 10 pictures and his 15 factors within the first half have been one shy of matching his playoff excessive set final season in Recreation 6 in opposition to Atlanta.
The Raptors inched inside 11 within the third however Harden — the daring commerce deadline acquisition made for these moments — buried a 3 and a layup.
Harden then heaved a two-handed bounce cross from midcourt that Maxey caught in stride for a high-flying, reverse layup.
The Sixers led by 18, Toronto known as a timeout and the Philly crowd went wild. Maxey hit one other 3 and it was 91-76.
The Raptors solely critically challenged late within the first half. Embiid was hit with a flagrant after he clobbered Barnes on a drive.
Barnes made 1 of two free throws and the Raptors scored off his miss to drag to 48-42.
Embiid, although, made the Raptors pay moments later. He sneered on a bucket and compelled VanVleet (who fouled out within the fourth) to his third foul. Embiid transformed the three-point play for a 57-42 lead.
Maxey took it from there.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Barnes grabbed his left foot and was in obvious ache after Embiid stepped on his foot within the fourth. He wanted assist to the locker room.
Barnes, a high contender for Rookie of the 12 months, averaged 15.3 factors in 74 video games. … F Thaddeus Younger left with a sprained left thumb.
TIP-INS
Raptors: Had simply two offensive rebounds within the first half. … Chris Boucher additionally fouled out.
Matisse Thybulle had three factors in 19 minutes. He will not be accessible for Video games 3 and 4 in Toronto as a result of he is not totally vaccinated.
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