NBA: Sixers look to rebound vs. surging Wizards

The Philadelphia 76ers are looking to rebound from one of their toughest performances of the season when the Washington Wizards visit Wednesday.

Philadelphia fell 125-124 in overtime to the Denver Nuggets on Monday, despite having nearly the entire team healthy and available. Denver, meanwhile, was missing seven of its top eight scorers, including all five starters.

The Sixers had won three straight games but struggled to contain role players like Jalen Pickett, Peyton Watson, and Zeke Nnaji.

“We just didn’t guard them and keep the ball in front of us well enough all night,” Sixers coach Nick Nurse said.

Tyrese Maxey led the team with 28 points but came up short in two crucial moments. At the end of regulation, Maxey lost the ball before missing a heave at the buzzer. In overtime, he attempted an off-balance scoop shot that rimmed out.

“I think I’m just learning what I want to get into,” Maxey said. “What I want to do, how I want to play, where I want guys, and that’s the biggest thing I’m learning.”

Joel Embiid, who finished with 32 points and 10 rebounds, remains confident in Maxey.

“I think he has the right mindset to make those plays, and we’re still going to trust him to make those plays,” Embiid said.

Next up for Maxey, Embiid, and the rest of the Sixers is a matchup against a Washington team that has won five of its last seven games. The Wizards, who struggled early in the season with only five wins in their first 28 games, are now showing signs of momentum.

Even so, Washington nearly suffered a scare on Tuesday, holding off the Orlando Magic 120-112 after seeing a 26-point lead shrink to 107-105.

“I think you realize these games are long, and you just want to keep doing the things that got you there,” Wizards coach Brian Keefe said. “Sometimes you forget how you got there. I think we realized the way we got there was with our defense. We gave up a big scoring stretch, and I think we relaxed a bit defensively.”

Six Wizards players scored in double figures, led by veteran guard C.J. McCollum’s 27 points. McCollum has also been linked to trade rumors, with Washington considered a potential landing spot for Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young.

Alex Sarr added 23 points, eight rebounds, and four blocks against Orlando. He has recorded at least 19 points and four blocks in four of his last six games.

“Yeah, I feel like I’m better than my rookie season,” Sarr said. “Having more impact on defense and offense, so it’s definitely good to see.”

This game marks the third of four meetings between the teams this season. Philadelphia won 139-134 in overtime on Oct. 28 and 121-102 on Dec. 2.

Maxey averaged 37 points in the two previous wins, while Sarr notched 31 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists in the first matchup before missing the second game with an adductor injury.

—Field Level Media/Reuters