Tyrese Maxey delivered 35 points and a decisive defensive play in the final second as the Philadelphia 76ers edged the Golden State Warriors 99–98 on Thursday night at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Philadelphia improved to 12–9 behind Maxey’s scoring burst and a game-winning sequence that unfolded after he missed a jumper with the Sixers down one.
Rookie VJ Edgecombe followed the miss with a tip-in that put the 76ers ahead 99–98 with 0.9 seconds left.
Golden State immediately sent an inbounds pass to De’Anthony Melton, who leaked out behind the defense after making his season debut, but Maxey sprinted back to block the layup off the glass as time expired.
Joel Embiid returned to the lineup and added 12 points and six rebounds in 25 minutes after missing the previous game.
Philadelphia built a 67–43 lead when Maxey hit a 3-pointer with 8:06 remaining in the third quarter.
Golden State answered with a 15–0 run early in the fourth, sparked by Pat Spencer and Jonathan Kuminga, and kept applying pressure as the Sixers’ offense slowed.
Spencer finished with 16 points and shot 5-for-8 from the field, while Melton added 14 points in 21 minutes in his first game since tearing his ACL last year.
The Warriors were already without Stephen Curry, who missed his seventh game of the season due to a left quad contusion, and Jimmy Butler, who sat with left knee soreness after being injured Tuesday.
Golden State also lost Draymond Green to a right foot injury late in the second quarter after he totaled three points and three rebounds in nine minutes.
Despite the absences, the Warriors erased a 24-point deficit and briefly took the lead in the final minute before Edgecombe intercepted an inbounds pass with 8.2 seconds left.
Brandin Podziemski contributed 14 points and two assists, while Kuminga added 14 points and four rebounds off the bench.
The Warriors shot 42% overall and 29% from 3-point range but held a 32–11 edge in free-throw attempts and forced 19 Philadelphia turnovers.
The 76ers shot 46% from the field and received balanced production around Maxey, with Edgecombe scoring 10 points and grabbing six rebounds.
Dominick Barlow posted six points and 14 rebounds, anchoring the interior while helping Philadelphia control the glass 47–43.
Quentin Grimes chipped in 12 points and six assists, and Jabari Walker delivered seven points and five rebounds off the bench.
Philadelphia moved to 8–4 at home and now heads to Milwaukee for the second night of a back-to-back on Friday.
Golden State continues its road trip Saturday in Cleveland, aiming to regroup after falling to 11–12.
