Tyrese Maxey totaled 22 points, nine rebounds and seven assists as the short-handed Philadelphia 76ers never trailed in their 115-103 victory over the host Brooklyn Nets on Friday night.
The Sixers were without Joel Embiid (right knee) for a ninth straight game along with rookie VJ Edgecombe (left calf) for a third straight contest. Philadelphia was also missing Kelly Oubre Jr. (left knee) and former Net Trendon Watford (groin).
Jared McCain added 20 off Philadelphia’s bench. Quentin Grimes chipped in 19 and nine assists for the Sixers, who avoided a third straight loss and stayed above .500 at 10-8.
Paul George contributed 14 after being questionable with a sprained right ankle. Adem Bona chipped in 13 as the Sixers shot 48.9% and scored 58 points in the paint.
The Nets fell to 0-9 at home and lost to Philadelphia for the second time this season. Brooklyn also played without Michael Porter Jr., whom coach Jordi Fernandez said felt lower-back tightness during Monday’s 113-100 loss to the New York Knicks.
Rookie Egor Demin scored a career-best 23 points and collected nine rebounds for Brooklyn. Noah Clowney and Tyrese Martin added 16 apiece while Terance Mann contributed 14 as the Nets shot 40.5% and committed 18 turnovers.
Philadelphia shot 52.2% and held a 31-23 lead through the opening quarter. The Sixers took a 54-33 lead on Maxey’s 34-foot 3-pointer with 6:01 left in the second quarter, then a 59-39 edge on a 3 by Justin Edwards with 3:50 left in the frame before carrying a 63-48 advantage into halftime.
After Demin’s 3 pulled Brooklyn within 74-65 with 4:07 left in the third quarter, the Sixers quickly regained their double-digit lead and entered the fourth up 87-75. Brooklyn made another comeback try, getting within nine on three occasions in the final 4 1/2 minutes — all on baskets by Demin, a layup and pair of 3-pointers — but Philadelphia clinched it when Bona canned a 3 for a 115-103 lead with 1:16 left.
