The Philadelphia 76ers produced one of their highest-scoring performances of the season Wednesday night, defeating the Washington Wizards 153-131 at Capital One Arena despite the absence of Joel Embiid because of illness.
Philadelphia relied on balanced scoring and efficient shooting to control the second half, improving to 42-34 and moving into sixth place in the Eastern Conference standings. The 76ers are tied with Toronto in record but hold the tiebreaker advantage.
Paul George led the offense with a season-high 39 points in his fourth game back from a 25-game suspension for violating the NBA’s anti-drug rules. The veteran forward shot 15-of-22 from the field, connected on 6-of-12 from three-point range, and added six assists, five rebounds and three steals.
Tyrese Maxey continued his strong return from a finger injury with 28 points and nine assists in his third game back. Rookie guard VJ Edgecombe recorded a double-double with 23 points and 10 assists while shooting 10-of-15 from the field.
Philadelphia’s starting lineup dominated the game’s offensive flow. The five starters combined to shoot 45-of-65 from the floor, a 69.2 percent mark that fueled the team’s 62 percent overall shooting for the night.
The turning point came early in the third quarter after a competitive first half that featured five ties and four lead changes. Philadelphia opened the second half with a 24-4 run, creating separation and shifting the game’s pace.
The 76ers scored 47 points in the third quarter alone, the second-most points the Wizards have allowed in a single period this season. Philadelphia finished with 37 assists on 61 made field goals, reflecting consistent ball movement and transition opportunities.
Washington struggled to keep pace defensively but received a career performance from Anthony Gill. The veteran forward scored a career-high 21 points on 8-of-9 shooting while adding six rebounds and six assists.
Tristan Vukcevic added 17 points for Washington in limited minutes, and Will Riley finished with 18 points on 8-of-12 shooting. Justin Champagnie contributed 17 points and seven rebounds off the bench.
Despite the offensive contributions, the Wizards dropped their fourth consecutive game and have now lost 20 of their last 21 contests. Washington fell to 17-58, leaving the team alone in last place in the NBA standings after beginning the night tied with Indiana.
The performance marked the second straight Wednesday that Philadelphia surpassed 150 points. The club scored 157 in a victory over Chicago one week earlier.
Philadelphia returns home Friday night to host Minnesota, while Washington travels to Miami for a Saturday matchup.
