PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia 76ers played host to the Golden State Warriors on Thursday night looking to keep things moving in the right direction. With Joel Embiid back on the floor following a 1-game absence, the Sixers seemed revitalized as they got off to an incredibly hot start and were able to sustain it throughout the night.
The Sixers held the Warriors to just 10 points in the first quarter, led by as many as 24, saw that lead disappear, then had to rally late to knock off the Dubs 99-98. Tyrese Maxey led the way for Philadelphia with 35 points as he made sure the Sixers were in a position to get it done. Golden State had no answer for him in this one.
Embiid had 12 points and six rebounds while Dominick Barlow had six points, 14 rebounds, three assists, and three blocks in a terrific night. VJ Edgecombe added 10 points, five assists, and six rebounds while Quentin Grimes had 12 points, five rebounds, and six assists.
Here are the player grades following the win:
Tyrese Maxey: A-plus
After Embiid went to the bench after his first stint, it meant time for Maxey to take over. He rattled off 10 quick points including a couple of buckets against former Sixers guards De’Anthony Melton and Buddy Hield in the opening quarter. The Warriors truly had no answer for him all night long. No matter how many timeouts they called or defensive schemes they came up with, Maxey made it look incredibly easy on the offensive end. His overall offensive output was extremely efficient and he threw the Sixers on his back to get the job done in this one.
VJ Edgecombe: B-plus
The rookie got into the act early as he knocked down a 3-pointer off a swing pass and then came up with a steal and an easy bucket the other way. He also knocked down an impressive 3-pointer off movement in the corner. He was drifting into the corner, caught the ball, and confidently pulled up for a big 3-pointer. Overall, he had a few head-scratching turnovers, but Edgecombe was able to give the Sixers some good production in a number of ways. All of that goes out the window, though, as Edgecombe had the game-winning putback with 0.8 seconds left and then hustled back to help make the big defensive play to win it.
Quentin Grimes: B-minus
It was a slow start for Grimes as he missed a number of wide-open looks from the perimeter. In order to contribute, he was able to put the ball on the floor and get into the paint leading to some easy buckets for others with his passing ability. He was also terrific on the glass as he came up with extra possessions for Philadelphia. The Sixers being able to rely on a guy like Grimes who can do a number of different things to contribute is a big plus for this group.
Dominick Barlow: A
The start for Barlow showed off the energy he brings on a nightly basis. He grabbed some big rebounds aggressively and got himself some easy buckets just off moving without the ball. His cutting is something that has stood out with him throughout the season and it was on display in this one. He also deserves credit for the defense he played in this one as he moved his feet and gave the Sixers a big boost. He did so many good things in this one in so many different areas.
Joel Embiid: B
The big fella started the night with a bucket over old nemesis Al Horford who is now in The Bay with the Warriors. Embiid also knocked down a free-throw line jumper in his initial 6-minute stint as the Sixers continue to work him back into things. The 3-point shot was off in this one—which he settled for too many of them—but when he worked in the mid-range or the post, he was effective and continued to give the Sixers good offensive production. He did a good job in this one of rebounding and directing traffic on either end of the floor so the Sixers will certainly take that type of production in this one.
Jabari Walker: A-minus
Walker continued his recent strong play by knocking down a 3 in his initial stint. That’s a shot the Sixers have been pushing him to take and him stepping into it with confidence early is a good sign for him on the offensive end. He had a couple of bad turnovers, but Walker did a lot of good things off the bench for Philadelphia that helped them on both ends.
Justin Edwards: B
A good sign for the Sixers in this one was the fact that Edwards knocked down his first 3-point attempt from the wing as he found a way to contribute right away. He was helpful on the defensive end as well as he put on a good showing on the perimeter using his hands and was active on that end. Overall, Edwards had a nice night and had some good contributions in this one.
Jared McCain: B-minus
As McCain works his way back into things following such a long layoff, it was good to see him put the ball on the floor and attack the basket. If the Sixers are going to get this type of play from the second-year guard, then that changes things on the offensive end of the floor.
Andre Drummond: C
The big man’s minutes in this one were mostly needed to make sure Embiid got his rest. Drummond did that and gave the Sixers a presence on the defensive end and on the glass. It wasn’t a standout night in terms of the stats, but Drummond was helpful and Philadelphia was able to get Embiid the rest he needs. He did have a tough fourth quarter, though, as the Sixers turned to Adem Bona.
Adem Bona: B-minus
Entering the game cold in the guts of the game in the fourth quarter, Bona had some good moments late with his work on the glass and his defensive ability. The energy he brought was a big boost for Philadelphia down the stretch.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Player grades: Tyrese Maxey leads Sixers to solid win over Warriors
