In the second half of a road back-to-back, the 76ers (40-21) head to Dallas to face Luka Dončić and the Mavericks (32-31) for the first time this season. The Sixers won Wednesday in Miami, 119-96.
Joel Embiid (left foot soreness) did not suit up in the most recent outing against the Heat. After an evenly played first quarter, James Harden — who scored 15 of his 23 points in the second quarter — and the Sixers opened things up for a 71-53 halftime lead. They made 11 threes in the first half and committed just three turnovers.
Tyrese Maxey led all scorers with 27 points, while Paul Reed notched the fifth double-double of his NBA career with 16 points and a career-high 14 rebounds.
“It felt amazing,” Reed said. “Honestly, coming into this game, I was taking it personally. We lost to this team in the playoffs last year and the other night. I really had a chip on my shoulder tonight, and I really wanted to prove a point.”
Thursday night in Dallas will mark the first meeting between the Sixers and Mavericks this season.
“It’s kind of cool, I get to see a lot of family,” said Maxey, a native of Garland, Texas. “It’s always great to see people that grew up watching me, like in high school and then all the way down to when I played my first basketball game at four [years old]. It’s going to be great to see them in the stands… Get to hang out with them a little bit. Life will be great.”
The Mavericks fell to the Pacers, 124-122, on Tuesday. Dončić, the leading scorer in the NBA — just 0.2 points per game (33.2) ahead of Embiid — posted 39 points in the loss.
Kyrie Irving is averaging 24.7 points and 6.9 assists over seven games played with Dallas.
Dāvis Bertāns is out with a left calf strain.
Thursday is a 7:30 p.m. Eastern start.
Wednesday’s Top Performances:
Tyrese Maxey
- Maxey scored 10 points in both the first and third quarters, finishing with a game-high 27 on top of four rebounds and a game-high seven assists.
- In 37 minutes back in the starting lineup, Maxey shot 10-for-17 from the field, 4-for-7 from 3-point range, and 3-for-3 from the foul line.
James Harden
- Harden tallied 23 points (6-15 fg, 4-9 3fg, 7-7 ft), seven rebounds, five assists, and one blocked shot in 37 minutes.
Tobias Harris
- Harris added 18 points (7-11 fg, 2-4 3fg, 2-2 ft), six rebounds, five assists, one steal, and one block in 35 minutes.
Paul Reed
- Reed secured a double-double in 29 minutes played as a reserve: 16 points (7-10 fg, 2-2 ft) and a game-high 14 rebounds (career high). He added two blocks in the victory.
Shake Milton
- In 21 minutes off the bench, Milton contributed 12 points on 5-for-11 shooting (2-5 3fg).
76ers vs. Miami Heat: Mar. 01, 2023
@Sixers Social:
Quote to Note:
Miami Heat Head Coach Erik Spoelstra in between the two games against the Sixers:
“It was an amazing environment up there in Philly… They are a team that is really tough to be disruptive against.”