By Tommy Matthews
Tyrese Maxey scored 15 of his 32 points in the third quarter and the Sixers, playing without Joel Embiid and James Harden, completed a perfect five-game road trip by beating the Sacramento Kings 129-127.
Maxey also had seven assists and six rebounds to help the 76ers overcome a 21-point deficit.
Embiid and Harden rested foot injuries but the rest of the 76ers snapped Sacramento’s six-game winning streak.
Tobias Harris, Montrezl Harrell and Georges Niang all had 17 points for the Sixers.
“That was a resilient win by our guys,” 76ers coach Doc Rivers said. “Everyone who played did something to help us win tonight. It’s a team win.”
De’Aaron Fox had 31 points and nine assists for the Kings (26-19). Harrison Barnes had 27 points, going 6 for 9 from 3-point range. Kevin Huerter added 20 points.
“They have some good players,” Huerter said. “This is a team that, when healthy, you can put against anyone in the East.”
The Kings built a 71-50 margin on a 3-point basket by Huerter with 3:10 left in the second quarter. The 76ers went on a 14-3 run but the Kings held on to lead 74-64 at the half.
The 76ers surged back to tie the game at 86 on a three-point play by Harrell with 6:59 left in the third quarter. The Kings regained the lead when Barnes scored the next five points but the 76ers mounted a 16-5 run to end the quarter with a 102-96 lead.
Maxey scored 12 of the 76ers’ first 16 points in the third quarter.
“I was telling them (76ers) I was gonna come out aggressive in the third,” Maxey said. “I think in the first and third quarter I was letting them (Kings) dictate what shots that I was taking. (In the third), I dictated what we needed. I think I did that for most part of the third quarter.”
