Philadelphia, March 22 (US): Therese Maxi has told teammate Joel Embiid that he will go up in his absence. After that, Maxi took control of the match and the cheers from the fans were usually dedicated to the heart of the 76ers’ stars.
Maxi scored 13 points from a game-high 28 points in the fourth quarter, including nine in a row during a crucial period, and Philadelphia’s – without Embiid and James Harden – beat the Eastern Conference leaders Miami Heat 113-106 on Monday. Night, The Associated Press reports.
Shaq Melton scored 20 points and Furkan Korkmaz added 18 points for Philadelphia, who withdrew in 2½ games from the Heat in the conference. Embiid sat with back pain and stiffness with tightness in his left hamstring.
“He said, ‘Go out there and help us get the W,'” Maxi said of Embiid’s introductory letter. “I told him, I got it.”
Boy, did he ever do that.
Maxi took control of the last two minutes as the match reached the goal line. In a contest that was tight from the edge, Philadelphia held onto a two-point lead when Maxi scored, volleyed and fired a free throw to lead 106-101 with 2:18 left.
After Jimmy Butler missed a 3-point attempt, Maxi scored a 3 back step to lead 109-101. Kyle Lowry and Tyler Hero were unable to convert on the other hand, and the sophomore guard from Kentucky exhausted 3 more, this time to advance 112-101 with 1:03 to play that brought “MAX-EY! Max-EY!” to cheers from the outgoing fans. In full which usually holds the loudest cheers for Embiid.
“He’s not just scared; he’s very relaxed at the moment,” Philadelphia coach Doc Rivers said. “He’s put in a lot of work. The more you work, the more you will have confidence in yourself, and I think that’s a great testament to Therese Maxi.”
Maxi is not finished.
After the Heat stole Philadelphia’s pass inside with 76 players up six points, Maxi raced down the field and halted Caleb Martin’s attempt 21 seconds before—leading to more “MAX-EY! Max Ey! Cheers.
“I was thinking either he’s going to dunk me, or I’m going to get this lump,” Maxi said. “He’s one of those people you should put your body to the test.”
Butler scored 27 goals, Pam Adebayo 22 and Laurie 20 for Miami, which lost only the fifth time in its last 20 games.
Philly fans have been chanting this season, but it’s usually “Best player! Best player!” about Embiid.
“It feels great to see all the work you’ve done come together,” Maxi said.
Embiid entered Monday in a draw with LeBron James to lead the NBA in scoring (29.8 dpi). The five-time All-Star is a Player of the Year award winners.
But Maxi took center stage with Embiid on the sidelines.
“Maxi played really well,” Heat coach Eric Spoelstra said. “He was holding out his right hand all night. No matter what we were doing or whatever the scheme or whoever it was on, he was his right hand and got where he wanted to go.”
star watchers
Watch Embiid’s Maxi Championships from the bench. He played 58 games this season and has made playing regularly a priority this season. The sixth-year position did not play more than 64 games in one season. He missed nine competitions in November due to health and safety protocols.
Harden has averaged 22.4 points, 10.5 assists and 7.0 rebounds in 11 games for the 76ers since being acquired from Brooklyn for Ben Simmons in a massive deal last month. But a hamstring injury has kept Harden off the field in his last four netting games and first four with 76ers. Since then, he’s played 10 All-Stars and former MVP in 11 of 12 games, only missing the 76ers’ defeat 99-82 in Miami On March 5th.
He didn’t play in the rematch, either, a possible final preview for the Eastern Conference.
“We’re just careful,” Rivers said before the game. Rivers said Harden has not had a setback in his hamstring recovery.
The 76ers started Paul Millsap in place of Embiid and Georges Niang at Harden.
The star duo’s next chance will be to return to the field in Los Angeles on Wednesday, when the 76ers begin their three-game trip against the Lakers.
coach room
Heat: Gabe Vincent (injured toe) and Victor Oladipo (lumbar spasms) did not play.
next one
Heat: Four games begin on the field on Wednesday against Golden State.
76ers: A three-game Western Open Tour against the Lakers on Wednesday.