Maxey erupts as Philly steals a wild one from the Clippers

Tyrese Maxey (39 points) owned the night for the Philadelphia 76ers, delivering an individual showcase that carried his team to a 110–108 win over the Los Angeles Clippers – a victory that felt sweeter than usual. Philadelphia trailed virtually the entire game, leading for only five minutes. The Sixers continue climbing the Eastern standings at 8–5.

Andre Drummond controlled the glass (14 points and 18 rebounds) and Quentin Grimes (19) played the unlikely hero late. James Harden (28 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists) once again led the Clippers, but his touch vanished when the pressure peaked. Another loss for Los Angeles, who keep sinking in the standings at 4–10.

The biggest storyline of the night was Paul George’s return. Eight months ago, in July, he had surgery on his left knee. The forward was coming off a season to forget – the worst of his career – averaging 16 points across 41 games.

With Joel Embiid unavailable, George opened the game just as the Clippers had hoped, knocking down five quick points. The Clippers immediately answered with a 19–2 run, driven by Harden, who arrived with two explosive outings behind him (41 and 37 points); his scorching form hadn’t cooled yet.

Bit by bit, the Sixers chipped away and tied the game midway through the second quarter. Maxey, with 12 first-half points, sparked the surge. George, meanwhile, had burned through his early burst and gradually faded. The Clippers capitalized on Philadelphia’s offensive sloppiness and reclaimed control by halftime (56–46).

Maxey kept attacking the rim, scoring six quick points after the break. Despite his relentless push – he was up to 23 midway through the third – it was becoming clear again that one player can’t win on his own; no other Sixer had reached 10 points. Harden continued quietly but efficiently (25–4–5), and the Clippers maintained their lead entering the fourth (83–73).

Predictably, the final quarter belonged to Maxey. He powered Philadelphia to its first lead (95–94) since the opening minutes. Five minutes remained, and the guard was already sitting on 36. It was a full offensive clinic that defied collective logic. That’s when the surprise hero appeared: Grimes scored seven straight to keep the Sixers in front.

A heart-stopping finish closed the night

With 11 seconds left, Philadelphia led 110–108 and took the ball out from the baseline. Maxey received the pass, tried to escape a double-team and drew a whistle – a call the Clippers protested immediately, prompting Tyronn Lue to challenge. After a long review and plenty of suspense, Curtis Blair overturned the decision; there was no foul, and the Clippers gained possession.

Harden received the ball, danced against Grimes and launched his trademark step-back three for the win. He missed, grabbed his own rebound, and launched another from the corner – off again. The victory stayed in Philadelphia.

It marked the second straight game in which Harden failed to hit a shot to tie or win. He’s producing at an astonishing level for 37 years old, but that missing clutch gene – the one that’s eluded him throughout his career – remained painfully visible.

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