Philadelphia,Oct 23: The Philadelphia 76ers secured a remarkable comeback victory against the Toronto Raptors in a thrilling NBA clash, with star players Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey leading the charge. Both Embiid and Maxey displayed their prowess by contributing 34 points each to ensure a 114-107 win for the 76ers, overturning an early deficit.
Joel Embiid, the reigning NBA Most Valuable Player, delivered a spectacular all-around performance, collecting nine rebounds, dishing out eight assists, stealing the ball once, and blocking two shots.
His excellence on both ends of the court was instrumental in the 76ers’ triumph. Maxey, not to be outdone, showcased his skills with seven assists and six rebounds, adding a dynamic dimension to Philadelphia’s offense.
The Raptors had an early lead of 36-27 after the first quarter, but the 76ers, determined to bounce back after their season opener loss to Milwaukee, steadily fought their way back into the game. Tyrese Maxey summed up the team’s resolute attitude, stating, “I feel good. I feel confident. We dropped one we shouldn’t have on Thursday, so we were determined to get one here. We had a slow start, we’ve got to fix that, but once we got our feet wet and guys got comfortable, we really executed and got stops, so that helped us.”
In another exciting NBA matchup, the New Orleans Pelicans, led by Brandon Ingram with 26 points and Zion Williamson with 24 points, defeated the visiting New York Knicks with a final score of 96-87. This win marked a 2-0 start to the season for the Pelicans. Zion Williamson, who has been plagued by injuries in the past, displayed his prowess, shooting 12-of-17 from the field, while Brandon Ingram contributed by making 11 of 17 shots.
The victory is a promising sign for a team that has missed the playoffs in four of the past five seasons.
Pelicans coach Willie Green praised the duo, saying, “They carried us offensively, and that’s what they need to do night in and night out. Their gravity generates quality shots for us and for themselves. I thought tonight they both did a spectacular job.” New Orleans’ stifling defense, which held the Knicks to just 12 points in the first quarter, played a pivotal role in securing the win.
In Chicago, despite an impressive 51-point performance by Zach LaVine, the Bulls fell short against the Detroit Pistons with a final score of 118-102. LaVine’s remarkable display, which included 19-of-32 shooting from the floor and 7-of-13 from beyond the arc, was overshadowed by the Pistons’ Cade Cunningham, who scored 25 points and tallied 10 assists. Jalen Duren also played a pivotal role for the Pistons, contributing 23 points and grabbing a game-high 15 rebounds.
Meanwhile, in Washington, the Wizards managed to secure a 113-106 victory against the Memphis Grizzlies, thanks to a combined effort led by Jordan Poole, who scored 27 points, and Kyle Kuzma, who added 21 points and 13 rebounds. Desmond Bane’s 26 points were not enough to lead the Grizzlies to victory.In other NBA action, the Indiana Pacers secured a 125-113 victory at Cleveland, with reserve player Aaron Nesmith leading the scoring with 26 points. (Agencies)
