The Philadelphia 76ers produced one of their highest-scoring performances of the season Wednesday night, defeating the Washington Wizards 153-131 at Capital One Arena despite the absence of Joel Embiid because of illness.
Philadelphia relied on balanced scoring and efficient shooting to control the second half, improving to 42-34 and moving into sixth place in the Eastern Conference standings. The 76ers are tied with Toronto in record but hold the tiebreaker advantage.
Paul George led the offense with a season-high 39 points in his fourth game back from a 25-game suspension for violating the NBA’s anti-drug rules. The veteran forward shot 15-of-22 from the field, connected on 6-of-12 from three-point range, and added six assists, five rebounds and three steals.
Tyrese Maxey continued his strong return from a finger injury with 28 points and nine assists in his third game back. Rookie guard VJ Edgecombe recorded a double-double with 23 points and 10 assists while shooting 10-of-15 from the field.
Philadelphia’s starting lineup dominated the game’s offensive flow. The five starters combined to shoot 45-of-65 from the floor, a 69.2 percent mark that fueled the team’s 62 percent overall shooting for the night.
The turning point came early in the third quarter after a competitive first half that featured five ties and four lead changes. Philadelphia opened the second half with a 24-4 run, creating separation and shifting the game’s pace.
The 76ers scored 47 points in the third quarter alone, the second-most points the Wizards have allowed in a single period this season. Philadelphia finished with 37 assists on 61 made field goals, reflecting consistent ball movement and transition opportunities.
Washington struggled to keep pace defensively but received a career performance from Anthony Gill. The veteran forward scored a career-high 21 points on 8-of-9 shooting while adding six rebounds and six assists.
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