Tyrese Maxey delivered a stellar performance, scoring 31 points and dishing out nine assists, as the Philadelphia 76ers secured a 109-97 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Saturday night. Kelly Oubre Jr. supported the effort with 22 points and 12 rebounds, propelling the Sixers to their second consecutive win.
The injury-hit Sixers, who ended a seven-game skid against Cleveland on Friday, overcame adversity again as Paul George exited in the second quarter due to a finger injury. Before leaving, George contributed nine points. Philadelphia now stands at 17-27 in the Eastern Conference standings, inching closer to play-in contention.
The game saw 14 lead changes before the Sixers pulled away in the third quarter. Outscoring the Bulls 29-14 in that period, Philadelphia turned a close contest into a decisive win.
Zach LaVine led Chicago with 25 points, while Nikola Vucevic added 22 points and 12 rebounds. Despite their efforts, the Bulls fell to 19-27, losing for the seventh time in their last eight games.
Maxey’s dynamic playmaking, combined with the defensive energy of players like Kelly Oubre Jr., proved crucial. Oubre recorded his second double-double of the season, shooting 50% from the field. Reggie Jackson also chipped in 12 points off the bench, providing an offensive spark.
Chicago struggled with turnovers throughout the game, committing 19, which led to 25 points for Philadelphia. The Bulls briefly rallied in the fourth quarter but couldn’t recover from their poor third period. Josh Giddey had 10 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists for Chicago, while Patrick Williams was held to just two points on 1-for-9 shooting.
Philadelphia’s depth came into focus as Joel Embiid missed his 11th straight game due to a knee injury. Kyle Lowry returned after missing 10 games, adding stability to the backcourt.