The Philadelphia 76ers secured a 111-96 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Saturday, marking their fourth win of the season. Tyrese Maxey spearheaded the effort with a game-high 28 points, as the Sixers snapped a stretch of seven losses in eight games.
Philadelphia established dominance early, opening the contest with a 22-7 run fueled by three-pointers from Maxey, Paul George, and Kelly Oubre Jr. The Sixers led by as much as 18 points in the first quarter and entered halftime with a 57-52 advantage.
Maxey’s backcourt partner, Ricky Council IV, contributed 17 points off the bench, while rookie Jared McCain added 19 points and four rebounds. George, returning from a three-game absence due to a knee injury, posted 11 points, eight rebounds, and five assists in 26 minutes of play.
In the second half, Philadelphia capitalized on Detroit’s offensive struggles, outscoring the Pistons 27-10 during a dominant third-quarter stretch.
The Sixers extended their lead to 84-62, with KJ Martin stepping up in Andre Drummond’s absence after the center exited in the first quarter with an ankle injury.
For Detroit, Malik Beasley led the team with 19 points, including four three-pointers. Jaden Ivey added 15 points and five assists, while Marcus Sasser chipped in 12 points. Simone Fontecchio was a bright spot on the boards, grabbing a game-high 11 rebounds and dishing out two assists.
The Pistons struggled to find consistency offensively, shooting just 27.5% from beyond the arc. Starters Tobias Harris, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Jalen Duren combined for a mere eight points on 3-for-16 shooting, missing all seven of their three-point attempts.
The absence of Cade Cunningham, a late scratch due to a sprained sacroiliac joint, further compounded Detroit’s challenges. Meanwhile, Philadelphia outperformed the Pistons on the glass, recording 50 rebounds to Detroit’s 42, and limited turnovers to maintain their lead.
Philadelphia’s defense played a critical role in the win, as they held Detroit to under 40% shooting from the field. Maxey’s leadership and timely shooting ensured the Sixers never relinquished their momentum, even as the Pistons tried to mount a comeback in the fourth quarter.
Despite the victory, the Sixers remain at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings with a 4-14 record. However, their strong showing against Detroit could signal a turnaround for the embattled squad. The Pistons, now 9-13, have dropped three consecutive games.
