The 76ers (2-0) continue their preseason schedule Monday in Cleveland, facing the Cleveland Cavaliers (0-1) for the second straight game.
Joel Embiid, James Harden and PJ Tucker made their 2022-23 preseason debuts, starting alongside Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris. Danuel House Jr. also made his debut, as Tucker, sporting a Sixers uniform for the first time.
Maxey again led all scorers in just one half, posting 21 points with just two misses. Recently receiving votes in the NBA GM poll for “fastest player on the ball,” Maxey and his elite speed are a hot topic heading into his third season.
New teammate PJ Tucker certainly appreciates Maxey’s pace:
“He’s definitely the fastest guy I’ve ever seen in my life,” Tucker said after Friday’s practice. “Tyrese is incredibly fast. It’s frightening.”
Montrezl Harrell scored the decisive go-ahead basket – a powerful driving layup – with 26.7 seconds left in the game to give the Sixers a 111-109 lead. He also took a charge in the final seconds of the third quarter. In the 2020-21 season, Harrell’s 22 charges were tied for the most in the NBA.
“I play with energy,” Harrell said while filming the morning of the game. “I play as hard as I can and do all the little things that sometimes don’t show up in the stat sheet.”
Harrell, Maxey and the Sixers spent Saturday afternoon at Chase Fieldhouse in Wilmington, home of their NBA G League affiliate – the Delaware Blue Coats.
The team’s annual Blue x White Scrimmage, presented by Ticketmaster, allowed fans to see their favorite players up close. The training was divided into two 12-minute halves. Still tied when the final bell sounded, head coach Doc Rivers called for a shootout which resulted in Isaiah Joe draining all three winners.
“PJ Tucker’s craftsmanship continues to amaze us,” Matisse Thybulle shared after the scrum. “His ability to get things done. Less is more… Just being around that and letting it rub off on us was a huge asset.
Key contributors vs CLE
- Maxey had 21 points on 9 for 11 shooting from the field and a perfect 3 for 3 from beyond the arc in 15 minutes in the first half.
- Harrell recorded 13 points (5-7 fg, 3-6 ft), three rebounds, two assists and a block in 16 minutes off the Philadelphia bench.
- In 15 minutes off the bench, Melton had 11 points (3-7 fg, 1-3 3fg, 4-4 ft), four rebounds, three assists, a steal and a block.
- Embiid played his full 18 minutes in the first half and Milton played a record 27 minutes in total, with both players contributing 12 points.
- Embiid added six rebounds and three assists. Milton added four rebounds, five assists, two steals and a block.
Monday’s game in Cleveland kicks off at 7:00 p.m. ET.
This is an “us” season, not a “me” season for the 76ers — a message delivered by head coach Doc Rivers and echoed by Tyrese Maxey on Media Day. De’Anthony Melton says that kind of team chemistry continues to develop:
“I think we all know what goal we have in mind. We all want jewelry at the end of this year, holding up a trophy. It starts with all of us, not just one person. Everyone has to put in the work, the dedication, the sacrifice to make it happen. I think we understand that and I think we’re getting there.
All-Star Donovan Mitchell scored a team-high 16 points (6-9 fg, 3-4 3fg, 1-1 ft) in his Cavaliers preseason debut on Wednesday in South Philadelphia.
Darius Garland and Raul Neto scored 12 points each, while Dean Wade and Sharife Cooper both added 11 points.
Rookie of the Year finalist Evan Mobley missed the previous game with a sprained right ankle.