PHILADELPHIA — In an exciting showdown, Jared McCain delivered a personal best with 27 points, helping the Philadelphia 76ers end their five-game losing streak with a thrilling 107-105 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday night.
The 76ers’ first-round pick from Duke shone brightly in the second half, scoring 23 points during that period and overtime while shooting 9 for 15 from the field. Guerschon Yabusele also made significant contributions, achieving a career-high of 20 points. Philadelphia improved to a record of 2-7, still searching for their first regulation victory. Paul George contributed with 15 points and nine assists but did not participate in the overtime period, having logged 33 minutes on the court in just his third outing back from a bone bruise.
For Charlotte, LaMelo Ball was the standout performer, netting 38 points, though his efforts fell short in the end. His remarkable fadeaway three-pointer with eight seconds remaining in the fourth quarter extended the game into overtime, providing a spark for his team. Brandon Miller added 22 points while Grant Williams chipped in with 17 points.
In analyzing the game, the Hornets struggled with their shooting from beyond the arc, finishing with just 14 successful three-point attempts out of 54. Their tendency to make risky plays often forced them into taking shots with the shot clock expiring.
On the other side, with Joel Embiid sidelined due to suspension and a knee injury and Tyrese Maxey missing action because of a hamstring strain, the offensive weight was lifted onto McCain and Yabusele, who are still establishing their presence in the league.
A crucial moment came during the overtime session when the 76ers managed only two field goals but capitalized at the free-throw line, hitting 6 of 8 attempts to secure their win.
Despite an unimpressive first half where Philadelphia missed 14 of their 15 three-point attempts, they managed to stay ahead by a single point. They regrouped in the third quarter, knocking down five of their first seven attempts from deep, which allowed them to increase their lead to 10 as the period came to a close.
Looking ahead, both teams will kick off their participation in the NBA Cup round-robin on Tuesday, with the Hornets set to play against Orlando while the 76ers will host the Knicks, renewing their rivalry from last year’s first-round playoff encounter.