Tyrese Maxey delivered an outstanding performance, scoring a career-high 54 points in the Philadelphia 76ers’ 123-114 overtime win against the Milwaukee Bucks.
He tied the game by making two free throws with seven seconds left in regulation. Maxey’s previous best was 52 points during a double-overtime victory over San Antonio on April 7, 2024. Additionally, he contributed nine assists and played over 46 minutes.
Despite missing key players, the San Antonio Spurs secured their third consecutive victory by defeating the Atlanta Hawks 135-126. De’Aaron Fox scored 26 points while Keldon Johnson added 25 for the Spurs. Nickeil Alexander-Walker achieved a career-high of 38 points for Atlanta. The Hawks have now lost two straight games after previously winning five in a row.
Both teams were missing their former MVPs. Giannis Antetokounmpo of Milwaukee, who won MVP in 2019 and 2020, is sidelined with a left adductor strain and is expected to be out for about two weeks. Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid, the MVP in 2023, missed his sixth consecutive game due to a right knee issue.
The Memphis Grizzlies ended their five-game losing streak by defeating the Sacramento Kings 137-96. Santi Aldama led Memphis with 29 points, while Jock Landale added 21. Vince Williams recorded a career-high of 15 assists. Zach LaVine was Sacramento’s top scorer with 26 points as they suffered their eighth consecutive loss.
The Spurs are off to their best start since the 2016-17 season with an impressive record of 11-4 after their first 15 games. They managed this despite missing several key players like Victor Wembanyama due to a left calf strain and Stephon Castle with a strained hip flexor. Dylan Harper also sat out due to a calf strain.
Milwaukee’s Ryan Rollins matched his career high by scoring 32 points and set a personal best with 14 assists during the game against Philadelphia. However, the Bucks have struggled recently, losing four of their last five games.
Kings Struggle Amidst Injury Woes
Sacramento announced that Domantas Sabonis has a partial meniscus tear in his left knee and will be re-evaluated in three to four weeks. This injury occurred during Sunday’s loss at San Antonio. The Kings have been struggling significantly, losing all eight games in their current skid by double digits, including four losses by at least 27 points.
The Kings’ recent defeat was their largest margin of loss this season at 41 points. Russell Westbrook and Keegan Murray each scored 11 points for Sacramento; it was Murray’s first game back following a preseason thumb injury.
The Spurs’ David Jones Garcia shone brightly despite being on a two-way contract from the Dominican Republic. He achieved season highs with his performance: scoring twelve points alongside six assists, five rebounds, three steals and one blocked shot.