While it wasn’t quite a 26-point lead in a playoff game, the Summer Sixers gave the Atlanta Hawks a taste of their own medicine, charging back from a 13-point deficit to prevail in overtime, 96-88. After Atlanta led most of the way, Philadelphia went on a 9-0 run to tie the game at 58 in the third quarter. Following some highly competitive second-half basketball, the Sixers grabbed their first lead since 4-2 at 81-80 with under two minutes left, thanks to five straight points from Tyrese Maxey. In the final minute, Isaiah Joe hit a big 3 and Paul Reed scored on a drive, but a late bucket from Atlanta’s Sharife Cooper sent the game to overtime.
In overtime, though, it was all Sixers, who outscored Atlanta 10-2 across the two-minute frame, behind six more points from Maxey. Tyrese finished with a game-high 31 points, headlining an excellent effort from all three “star sophomores” for the Sixers. Isaiah Joe hit five 3s to finish with 21 points, and Paul Reed finished with 20 points and 12 rebounds. Some quick hits on individual performances from the 96-88 win:
If Maxey ever consistently hits his outside shot, the sky’s the limit for this kid. He only shot 1-of-8 from 3 in this game, but he has clearly worked on creating separation for himself off the dribble and he looks comfortable letting them fly. Of course, it helps that defenders must be terrified that the second-year guard will streak by them off the bounce. Maxey can navigate through defenders and get to the rim with the greatest of ease; he had a simply ridiculous array of drives and finishes tonight.
Oh, and this didn’t count because of a foul, but Maxey’s pinned block off the glass was incredible as well — too good for Summer League.
Isaiah Joe has a path to role player status as a floor spacer who can make it rain from deep with little to no conscience. But encouragingly, we also saw a fair bit of superb playmaking ability from him tonight. Plays like this from Joe were not in the scouting report:
I have my doubts of Rayjon Tucker ever being an NBA contributor, but he’s a lock for a highlight-reel play or two every time out. He had a incredible block to deny Cooper of a bucket, and almost finished a jump-out-of-the-gym alley-oop (the defender made a nice recovery to legally body him and alter his flight path).
Jaden Springer made a couple nice plays, but I doubt he’s a rotation guy this upcoming season. The rookie just doesn’t have enough offensive polish at this stage of his development, either as a catch-and-shoot guy or finishing off the dribble. The defense is surely legitimate, however, so hopefully the offense comes with time and he looks like a great draft pick down the road.
How on earth did NBA teams let Sharife Cooper fall to 48??? He has amazing court vision, can get to the rim whenever he wants (at least against this level of competition), and has a full bag of tricks for scoring in the painted area. Jalen Johnson also looked good in what could be an outstanding draft for Atlanta.
I’ll let honorary Liberty Ballers contributor Ja Morant finish things up:
maxey & joe tough ‼️‼️ they getting to it
— Ja Morant (@JaMorant) August 13, 2021