Jared McCain set a career-high with 27 points, leading the Philadelphia 76ers to a 107-105 overtime victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday night. The win ended a five-game skid for Philadelphia, who improved to 2-7 on the season.
McCain, a rookie guard and former Duke standout, scored 23 of his points in the second half and overtime, shooting 9-for-15 from the field.
With Joel Embiid suspended and Tyrese Maxey sidelined, McCain stepped up to fill the offensive void, showcasing his potential in a high-stakes game.
Philadelphia benefited from a balanced scoring effort, as Guerschon Yabusele also posted a career-high 20 points and added eight rebounds. Veteran forward Paul George contributed 15 points and nine assists, though he sat out during overtime after playing 33 minutes as he continues to recover from a bone bruise.
For the Hornets, LaMelo Ball led all scorers with 38 points, including a clutch fadeaway three-pointer in the closing seconds of regulation to send the game into overtime. Brandon Miller scored 22 points, while Grant Williams added 17, but Charlotte ultimately fell short, dropping to 4-6.
The 76ers managed only two field goals in overtime but held their lead by making six of eight free throws. Philadelphia struggled early from three-point range, missing 14 of 15 attempts in the first half, yet they managed to hold a one-point lead.
Charlotte struggled from beyond the arc throughout the game, shooting 25.9% on 14-for-54 three-point attempts. The Hornets’ offense appeared disjointed at times, often forced into taking contested shots with the shot clock winding down.
