PHILADELPHIA — In a thrilling showdown on Saturday night, Nic Claxton scored 16 points and secured a last-second victory with a tip-in as the Brooklyn Nets narrowly defeated the Philadelphia 76ers, 105-103. Cam Johnson contributed significantly to the win, adding 23 points to the Nets’ tally.
Tyrese Maxey played a pivotal role for the 76ers, sinking a crucial three-pointer with 25 seconds remaining that tied the game at 103, marking a remarkable comeback from a 17-point deficit. The match appeared destined for overtime when Keon Johnson missed a long-range 3-pointer. However, Claxton found himself in the right place at the right time to score as the buzzer sounded, prompting a jubilant celebration from the Nets players on the court.
Trendon Watford also made a notable contribution for Brooklyn, scoring 16 points. Meanwhile, Maxey was the standout performer for Philadelphia, leading the team with an impressive 31 points.
The 76ers fielded their full-strength roster, featuring All-Stars Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Maxey from the starting lineup. However, their full-strength presence seemed to have little impact until the fourth quarter when Quintin Grimes hit a three-pointer to take a 95-94 lead for the 76ers. Maxey then broke a tie with another three, pushing the score to 100-97.
Despite facing a bleak situation with limited stakes beyond improving their draft position, the Nets continued to fight. Johnson’s go-ahead 3-pointer brought the score to 102-100 in favor of Brooklyn.
Key Takeaways:
The Nets had an impressive shooting performance, converting 15 out of 20 attempts (75%) in the first quarter, which allowed them to establish a comfortable lead that they maintained until the latter part of the fourth period.
On the other hand, Embiid struggled throughout the game, finishing with just 14 points and sitting out the entire fourth quarter after appearing to injure his left knee and displaying difficulty getting back on his feet late in the third. He also had an off night shooting, missing all six attempts from beyond the arc.
A crucial moment for the Nets came when Claxton was left unguarded for the game-winner, contrasting sharply with George’s poor shooting performance for the 76ers. After trailing by five points in the fourth, George missed a crucial running jump shot followed by a missed three-pointer during the same sequence.
Statistically, the 76ers faced considerable challenges, notably missing 21 of their 28 attempts from three-point range.
Looking ahead, both teams are set to play again on Monday night, with the Nets traveling to face Washington and the 76ers hosting the Chicago Bulls.
