The Philadelphia 76ers ended their five-game losing streak with a 113-98 win over the Brooklyn Nets in an NBA Cup matchup Friday night. Jared McCain scored 30 points, and Tyrese Maxey added 26 to lead the Sixers’ comeback.
Philadelphia played without stars Joel Embiid and Paul George, both sidelined due to left knee injuries. McCain and Maxey carried the load, combining for 19 consecutive points in the fourth quarter to turn a one-point deficit into a commanding 12-point lead.
McCain’s performance marked his seventh consecutive game with 20 or more points, highlighting his growth as a key contributor in Philadelphia’s rebuilding efforts.
The 20-year-old rookie out of Duke shot 11-of-20 from the field, including six three-pointers, and added five rebounds and three assists.
Maxey continued his strong play, shooting 11-of-17, while Kelly Oubre Jr. contributed 11 points and nine rebounds.
The Sixers capitalized on Brooklyn’s 19 turnovers, scoring 28 points off those miscues and attempting 13 more shots than the Nets.
Cameron Johnson led Brooklyn with 37 points on 14-of-21 shooting, including nine three-pointers. Keon Johnson added 18 points, but the Nets struggled to maintain their lead in the second half. They have now lost four of their last five games.
Philadelphia secured just its third win of the season and the first in regulation, improving to 3-12 overall and 1-2 in NBA Cup play.
Despite missing two All-Stars, the Sixers showed resilience against a Brooklyn team that fell to 6-10 and 1-2 in the tournament.
Embiid and George are expected to miss Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers before being re-evaluated next week.
Brooklyn’s ball-handling issues were a major factor in their defeat. The team’s 19 turnovers disrupted their rhythm, and Philadelphia’s defense capitalized.
