Tyrese Maxey delivered one of his most efficient performances of the season on Sunday night, scoring 39 points to power the Philadelphia 76ers to a 135-108 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center.
The All-Star guard shot 16-for-28 from the field and added eight assists as Philadelphia halted a four-game losing streak, all of which had come by double digits. The Sixers set the tone early and never trailed after the first quarter.
Philadelphia shot 52% overall and knocked down 21 of 37 attempts from 3-point range, a 57% clip that stretched Minnesota’s defense beyond the arc. Ball movement fueled the outburst, with the visitors recording 31 assists on 50 made field goals.
VJ Edgecombe complemented Maxey with 24 points and a career-high six 3-pointers, spacing the floor and punishing defensive help. Quentin Grimes added 19 points, including five from deep, along with seven assists.
Kelly Oubre Jr. contributed 18 points and four steals, helping turn defense into transition opportunities. The 76ers also received eight points and five rebounds in 20 minutes from Adem Bona off the bench.
Playing without Joel Embiid for the third straight game due to right shin soreness, Philadelphia relied on perimeter creation and pace. The offense generated clean looks early in possessions and limited Minnesota’s ability to set its half-court defense.
After a loss in New Orleans on Saturday, the Sixers opened with a 10-2 run late in the first quarter. Grimes hit a 3-pointer and found Bona for a dunk before Maxey closed the period with a fadeaway jumper and a 3 to make it 35-26.
Minnesota entered on a three-game winning streak but struggled to match Philadelphia’s shot-making. The Timberwolves shot 48% from the field yet connected on just 10 of 33 from beyond the arc and committed 20 turnovers.
Anthony Edwards scored 28 points, including 19 in the first half, but had seven turnovers. Jaden McDaniels finished with 19 points and Julius Randle added 18.
The Wolves were without Rudy Gobert, who served a one-game suspension for accumulating too many flagrant fouls, and Naz Reid, sidelined by shoulder soreness. Rookie Joan Beringer made his first career start and logged two points and three fouls in five first-half minutes.
The loss dropped Minnesota to 35-22, while Philadelphia improved to 30-26 and remained sixth in the Eastern Conference standings. The 76ers conclude their three-game trip Tuesday at Indiana, and the Timberwolves travel to Portland.
