Eastern Conference defenses are warned. Philadelphia will not only rely on Joel Embiid and James Harden in the play-offs. Doc Rivers and his staff have brought out a third man all season and he responded from the start of the final phase, Saturday against Toronto (131-111). With 38 points, Tyrese Maxey ignited the Wells Fargo Center and the Raptors defense.
Near the circle as behind the arc (five award-winning shots), the second-year player was the detonator for the Sixers in the third quarter. Maxey scored 21 points alone, including a (very) long distance shot to increase the gap to 20 units (108-88, 35th). Well supported by Joel Embiid (19 points, 15 rebounds) and James Harden (22 points, 14 assists), the young leader received praise from “The Beard”.
Barnes (Toronto) se blesse
« I saw him go from an irregular role, without regular minutes in the play-offs last year to a starting place and a huge role in a candidate for the title said Harden, quoted by ESPN. For Toronto, Pascal Siakam scored 24 points and provided 7 assists.
But the Raptors concluded their difficult evening by seeing their rookie Scottie Barnes go out after spraining his ankle in the last quarter. According to his coach Nick Nurse, X-rays taken after the match did not reveal any significant injury. But Barnes has just two days to return to form before Game 2, still at the Wells Fargo Center.
