Dallas Mavericks 108 vs 116 Philadelphia 76ers summary: stats and highlights | NBA
The Philadelphia 76ers snapped their three game losing streak with a gritty win over a Dallas Mavericks team that continues to spiral down the Western Conference Standings. Joel Embiid returned after missing the Sixers game in Denver to lead his team to the 116-108 victory on Wednesday night.
Philly’s big two back
The Sixers weren’t the only one’s coming into the game on a slide. Dallas had lost seven of their previous ten before Wednesday night to drop out of postseason seeding in the West.
Both Joel Embiid and James Harden returned from injuries for the game against Dallas, as they gear up for a final push to end the regular season and into the playoffs.
Dallas came out like the more desperate team to open the game as Kyrie Irving helped the Mavs build a double digit lead in the first quarter. The Sixers would battle back on multiple occasions but Dallas maintained their lead as Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving looked like they might have been starting to click in the first half.
Doncic had 24, 10 and 8 assists and Irving poured in another 23, but the Mavs ran out of steam after protecting the lead for more than three quarters. Embiid and Tyrese Maxey kept the Sixers within striking distance until late on after the Mavs failed to bury Philly on their home court.
Mavs in a free fall
Embiid had 25 and 9 rebounds and Maxey added another 22 as Philly wore the Mavs down and pounced as soon as they saw their chance. Embiid’s elbow jumper with under six minutes to go gave the Sixers the lead they would keep until the end of the game.
The Mavs offense went silent in the final seven minutes of the game, which will only further speculation of the debacle in Dallas. A team with two top talents in the league scored just five points in the final seven minutes as the Mavs dropped even farther away from Play-In positioning.
The Sixers snapped their losing streak, and will maintain their edge over Cleveland who is in fourth place in the East. Their chances at a one seed most likely ended during their three game losing streak, but they will still have an eye on the Celtics in the two seed just two games above Philly.
It was a five point game with around a minute in the fourth when Luka went to the cup, but Embiid shut the cabinet and closed the game for the Sixers to bring an end to their three game skid.
The Mavs had plenty of chances to pull away from the Sixers, but they never managed to do so. Once the Sixers had the chance, they pounced on it and buried Dallas.
Embiid put up 14 in the opening half, but before this shot, he had just 6 points in the second half. He was saving the best for last in a stretch where the Mavs scored just 5 points in the final 7 minutes of the game.
Niang tied the game up right before the fourth quarter with this kick out three ball and would end up making the Mavs pay for not putting them away.
Melton had 17 points off the bench and went 5/6 from three point range against the Mavs on Wednesday night.
Maxey had 22 on the night, and had some big buckets in the third quarter to keep Philly around.
The Sixers fell behind early but battled back in the first quarter only to find themselves trailing by nine going into the second, but Melton and Niang started to warm up from long range.
Embiid missed last game against Denver, but was back to his MVP ways, posting 25 9 and 3 assists.
Tyrese Maxey has been a revelation this year, and if he can keep scoring like he has been this Sixers team is going to be dangerous come playoff time.
Harden and Embiid hadn't been on the floor together in a while, but wasted no time connecting early in the first quarter.
IT'S ALL OVER FROM DALLAS!!!
The Sixers bring an end to their three game losing streak as the Mavs stay on the outside of the postseason picture looking in
Melton to the line and he hits one of two FTs after the Doncic foul.
Luka got stuffed by Embiid at the rack and that is the play that's going to ice this game.
Bullock fouls Harden who goes to the line and hits both FTs with 1:05 to go and the Mavs will take a timeout.
Harris backing down on the block and gets the jump hook to drop with under 2 minutes to go.
Doncic pulls the trigger over Embiid and he hits the three from the top of the key!
Melton comes out of the timeout and hits the second FT.
Melton to the line after the getting fouled on the offensive rebound attempt, and he misses the first FT before the Mavs call a timeout with 3:35 to go in the fourth quarter.
Doncic on the runner on the baseline and he gets it to drop off the crystal.
Maxey puts it on the deck and slashes across the paint for the scoop lay up.
Melton comes out of the timeout and drills the three ball in the corner! Sixers have their largest lead!
Embiid drops it from the elbow and the Mavs need a timeout after losing the lead with 6:15 to go in the fourth.
Embiid drills a three, and he needed that. He had second points in the second half before that shot.
Hardaway Jr. with the pass to McGee in transition for the slam!
Harden comes out of the timeout and laid it up off the glass and McGee was called for a goaltend.
Irving gets to the baseline on the dribble and he pulls up over three Sixers for the mid range jumper.
Timeout Philly with 8:09 to go in the fourth.
Defense dropped off and Harden punishes the Mavs with a three ball!
Irving strings the elbow jumper after a series of cross overs!
Hardaway Jr. with two in a row, but this time he banked it in from the left wing!
Reed gets his own rebound, and finds the put back and the foul! FT is good for the three point play!
Hardaway Jr. answers back with a three ball to give the Mavs back the lead.
McDaniels starts the quarter with a three ball in the corner!
Philly pulled the lead back for a moment, but Dallas is hanging in there in a must win game for the Mavs!
McDaniels was whistled for a flagrant foul after a refs review and Kleber hits both FTs, but Doncic misses the buzzer beat as the third quarter comes to and end!
Niang ties it up with his fourth three ball of the night after the offensive board from Reed!
Maxey on the entry pass to Reed who had to readjust after getting stuck under the rim, but got the bucket to go off the glass.
Hardy answers back with his second three of the quarter!
Melton strings the pull up three ball to cut the lead to two.
Niang slashes through the paint and gets the lay up to drop after dancing on the rim.
Doncic steps back and drills the triple from the left wing!
Irving going strong to the rack and he gets the bucket to go in traffic.
Maxey pulls the trigger and sees his three fall after rolling around the rim a couple times!
Kleber with the dump off to Irving who soared to the rim for a finger roll.
TO Philly with 4:46 to go after losing their momentary lead.
Hardy drills the three ball for his first FG and Philly don't want to see him get hot from DT.
Embiid drains the pull up from the FT line and it's all tied up.
Hardaway Jr. with the three ball in the corner after getting the roll to give the Mavs the lead again!
Doncic was fouled by Embiid, that's his third on the night and Luka hits both at the line.
Tucker on the pump fake, power dribble and short range shot off the glass, and the Mavs need a timeout with 6:41 to go in the third quarter.
Embiid at the line after the foul on Klever and he hits both FTs to give the Sixers the lead with 7:15 in the third.
Maxey at the line after the foul on Hardy and he hits both FTs.
Kickout from Doncic to Hardaway Jr. and he drills the corner three ball!
Harris was fouled by Irivng and he hits both FTs at the stripe and we are all tied up.
Maxey in the corner for three and he's got 15 on the night!
Harris backing down the defender and he hits it off the glass from the block.
Irving running the break and he hits Hardaway Jr. on a lob for the alley oop lay up.
Doncic strokes the catch and release three ball and the lead is back to 5.
Powell was fouled by Embiid, but it's the Sixers big man who came out of the collision holding his right shoulder. Powell hits one of two and we will monitor Embiid and that shoulder.
Embiid with a spot up from the FT line over Powell. and he's got 16.
Harden start the second half off with a steal and released Maxey down the floor for the opening bucket of the third.
The start of the game has been delayed for a short bit after the net broke on one of the wins. It has been fixed, and WE ARE BACK IN PLAY FROM PHILLY!
The Sixers came out with three straight threes to close the gap again early in the second quarter including this one from Melton and Niang's third off the bench.
The Mavs went up by double digits in the first quarter, lost the lead and then ended the first 12 with this four point play from Green to take a 9 point lead into the first quarter.
It's all eyes on these two, and so far they have failed to impress together. Tonight could be the start of a different story in a hostile stadium against a great team.
It's been a while since Sixers fans have seen Harden and Embiid on the same court, but they wasted no time connecting in the first quarter.
The Mavs saw their lead disappear at the beginning of that quarter as the Sixers got hot from DT, but Dallas got it back as Doncic and Irving settled the Mavs down to keep the advantage going into halftime.
We are heading to the halftime break from Philly!
The Mavs are holding on to a lead that they have had for almost the entire half. Irving leads the Mavs with 15, and Luka has 11, 5 and 6 assists.
Embiid has 14 to lead the Sixers and Maxey has another 10.
Harden at the line, and he hits one of two after the foul on Bullock.
Zip pass from Harden to Embiid who eurosteps to the iron and gets the lay up to go on the fast break.
Harris taking it right at Doncic and he gets the floater to go.
Harden at the line, and he hits one of two after the foul from Kleber.
Doncic gets the roll on a lay up after backing down his defender.
Harden drops a three ball and the Sixers started the quarter hot from DT. They could use a run like that before the half.
Bullock on the pull up from the midrange, and he's got five on the night.
Embiid at the line out of the timeout and he hits two FTs after the the foul on Powell.
We are headed to a timeout with 2:47 to go in the first half. Mavs are back up by double digits.
Doncic behind the back, and hits the floater down the middle of the lane!
Powell at the line, but he misses both FTs after the Harden foul.
Irving pulls the trigger off the dribble and the Mavs are back up by 10!
Harris blew by Doncic on the baseline and gets the bucket and the foul! FT is good for the three point play.
Doncic wiggles his way through the lane and gets a wide open bucket.
Bullock strings a three for the first time tonight after missing his first four!
Harden gets his own offensive rebound and the easy put back underneath.
Hardaway Jr. gets the leaner on the baseline and he's got 7 points off the bench.
Maxey got fouled by McGee on the lay up and he goes to the line and hits two FTs.
Hardaway Jr. on the give and got with Hardy and he hits the FT line jumper.
Timeout Sixers with 7:07 to go in the first half.
Hardaway Jr. drills a three ball from the top of the key! He's on the board for the first time tonight!
Maxey at the line after the foul on Hardaway Jr. and he hits both FTs.
Hardy at the line and he hits both FTs after the Reed foul.
Defensive three seconds called on Niang and Irving hits the FT.
Melton drains the three ball and the Sixers are using the long ball to close the gap to 1!
Maxey getting into the mix from downtown, and he hits the three ball for five first half points.
Wood at the line after a foul on Melton, and he hits one of two.
Niang with a three ball out of the quarter change and that's his third of the night!
What a way to end the quarter for Dallas who were up by 11, lost the lead momentarily and now lead by 9 again after the four point play by Green!
Irving has 11, and Doncic has 5, 3 and 6 assists.
Embiid has 10, and Niang has 6 on the bench to lead the Sixers.
Green drops a three ball in the corner to beat the buzzer on one of the strangest plays I've seen in a while. He got fouled on the shot by Niang before the clock hit 0:00, but released the shot with 0:00.2 on the clock so the three counts and he gets the foul!
Wood gets back to back buckets, this time in transition with the lay up and gets the foul! FT is good and the Mavs lead by 5.
Wood counters with a three ball of his own from the top of the key!
Melton strokes a triple try and that's three straight threes for Philly to take their first lead of the night!
Niang off the bench and on to the score board with back to back three balls!!! He can be a spark off the bench and he's proving that tonight.
Wood gets the short deuce to go in the paint.
Doncic finds Green on the inbound out of the timeout with the slam down the lane!
Philly takes a timeout with 2:44 to go in the first quarter. The Sixers are on a little run to end the opening 12 minutes.
Embiid following up his own miss and he gets the put back and the foul! FT is good!
Wood was called for a defensive three seconds, and Harden hit the FT, and then Melton dropped a three ball for the four point play!
Kleber strokes the three ball after some good ball movement around the perimeter!
Irving fouled by Embiid and he hits both at the line, and he's already in double digits with 4:37 to go.
Harris muscles his way in to the paint and he gets the short hook shot to drop.
Doncic on the step back from the top of the key, and he drops the triple!
Irivng racing down the court after Embiid lost the ball, and he gets the finger roll and the foul! FT is good and he's off the a hot start for Dallas tonight.
Maxey pulls up from long distance, and drills the three! If he can keep up his scoring hot streak the Sixers will have a great chance to down the Mavs.
Timeout Dallas with 6:13 to go in the first quarter.
Irving drops his second three of the night, this time from the top of the key!
Doncic goes between the legs, gets in the lane and gets the floater in the lane to go.
Embiid was fouled by Powell and he hits both FTs on his second trip to the line.
Embiid gets the roll after getting the entry pass from Maxey in the paint.
Doncic gets the rebound on the defensive end and lauches a pass into the path of Powell for the fast break dunk.
Embiid was fouled by Powell and he goes to the line and hits one of two FTs.
Irivng drills a three ball off the Doncic assist, and that's a nice start from those two.
Emiid starts his night with a jam off the Harden assist.
Doncic with the over the shoulder pass to Bullock who slashed to the lane for the lay up.
WE ARE UNDERWAY FROM PHILLY!!!
Two teams needing a win tip off from the Wells Fargo Center right now.
Scoring title and MVP award contenders going head to head
Luka Doncic has fallen back in the MVP race after the Mavs have spiraled down the Western Conference, but his numbers are still awfully impressive. He is second in the league in scoring getting 32.9 points a game and his 8.1 assists are good enough for sixth in the NBA. Joel Embiid is having another MVP worthy season, leading the league in scoring at 33.3 a night, and his 10.2 rebounds a night are good enough for 7th in the NBA. Both of these two are going to have a tough time knocking off Nikola Jokic in his bid for a third straight MVP in a season where he is on the verge of averaging a triple double. Even if they don’t win the MVP, this game could go a long way in determining the scoring title.
Mavs starting five
Both Doncic and Iriving are back in the starting five tonight. Mavs fans continue to wait for those two to click. They will give it another shot against a Sixers team that is back to 100%.
Sixers starters
It's confirmed, Joel Embiid and James Harden are both in Philly's starting five for tonight's game against the Mavs. That means they get 64 points, 16 rebounds and 14 assists back on the court tonight in a game they need to stop a losing skid.
Conference Standings
Taking a look at the standings in the East and the West, we see these two teams at opposite ends of the spectrum. The Sixers are still sitting in third even after losing three straight, but they have to be watchful of the Cavs who are looking to leap them for the three seed in the final weeks of the season. They are five games back of the Bucks, so the top seed seems a little far fetched, but if they can turn things around they might have a chance at jumping the Celtics for the two seed. The Mavs come into tonight on the outside of the postseason picture looking in. They have the same record as the Thunder who are in the final Play-In spot in 10th, but because of tie breakers would miss the Tournament if the season ended today. The Mavs sit just 3.5 games back of the 4th seed Suns, so there is a lot of room for improvement if they can right the ship, but that’s proving to be much easier said than done.
Mavs still working out the kinks
If the Mavs fail to make the playoffs, this may be considered one of the biggest trade deadline flops in NBA history. Kyrie Irving was brought into Dallas by Mark Cuban with the idea that he would lift this team from a contender to a favorite in the West, but things have gone south in a hurry and now the Mavs sit on the brink of elimination with a couple weeks left in the season.
Sixers back at home
The Sixers return home from a tough west coast road swing, and it looks like they could be at full strength. Joel Embiid and James Harden are listed as questionable after both sat out against the Nuggets. Joel Embiid sat out the Nuggets game as a precautionary measure after failing to finish his morning workout before the game in Denver. He may have missed the matchup between the two time defending MVP Nikola Jokic, but tonight he will be on the court to square up against another MVP candidate Luka Doncic.
Philly's last game
The Sixers went in to Denver without Joel Embidd or James Harden and took on the top seed in the Western Conference and almost came out with a win. Tyrese Maxey turned it on in the second quarter after Philly came out of the gate flat in the opening 12 minutes. He had 20 points in the quarter to get his team back in to the game, but the Nuggets again extended their lead to 22 in the second half as Nikola Jokic had a triple double without his MVP co-candidate on the floor. The Sixers pulled their starters halfway though the fourth quarter, and their second team cut the deficit to three points in the final minute, but the Nuggets were able to hold off the shorthanded Sixers to give them their third straight loss.
Mavs last game
The Mavs temporarily stopped the bleeding after a four game losing streak that sent them free falling down the Western Conference. Luka Doncic lead Dallas with 25 points in the much needed win for the Mavs, but despite the 20 point win there are still a lot of questions surrounding Kyrie Irving who had 16 points and Doncic. With two weeks remaining in the regular season, Dallas needs wins in a hurry to make sure they keep pace with the rest of the pack chasing postseason positioning.
We are live from Wells Fargo
Hello everyone and welcome to the City of Brotherly Love. This was supposed to be a game between two teams at the top of their conference as two of the leagues most deadly duos went toe to toe in a late season battle. That’s still the case for the Philadelphia 76ers despite their three game losing streak, but far from reality for the Dallas Mavericks who are plummeting down the Western Conference standings. The Mavs lost four in a row before beating the Pacers last game, and now face a Philly team desperate to move up the standings before the end of the regular season.
Mavs vs. 76ers live
Tonight two teams with very different ambitions face-off tonight at the Wells Fargo Center as the Philadelphia 76ers seek a late surge up the standings in the East host a slumping Dallas Mavericks that are in danger of missing the postseason. AS English will be with you all night providing live coverage, stats, scores and highlights of tonight’s primetime match up from Philly.