Sixers rally past Hornets

HOUSTON (AFP) — Tyrese Maxey scored 38 points to spark the Philadelphia 76ers in a fightback 109-104 National Basketball Association (NBA) victory at Charlotte on Saturday while LeBron James and Joel Embiid were rested with injuries.

Star guard Maxey scored 15 points in the fourth quarter as the Sixers (6-1) rallied from 13 points down for their fourth comeback win of more than 10 points this season.

“I don’t want to do that. I’m tired of doing that,” Maxey said of fightback triumphs. “This group is some fighters. We went up, went down, came back.”

“We’re very competitive. The game is not over until it’s over and that’s what I really like about this group.”

“We don’t like losing. We keep the game close, it’s going to be tough to beat us.”

Anfernee Simons added 19 off the bench and Jaylen Brown scored 16 for Philadelphia. Reserve Grayson Allen led the Hornets (3-4) with 27 points while Brandon Miller had 24 in a losing cause.

James and Embiid rested after a victory over New York on Friday. Both sat for injury management, 41-year-old James for lower back sciatica and Embiid with a sore right foot.

Maxey stepped up and delivered enough to secure another clutch victory.