He even threw the ball that had his autograph as the star of the 76ers match on the stands – where a fan made a grab with both hands. Everything went well for Maxey. Maxey scored 21 of the 38 points in his career playoffs in the third quarter and scored five three-pointers to lead Philadelphia to a 131-111 victory over Toronto in Game 1 on Saturday night. “I think the only thing I will remember is to win,” Maxey said. Philly will remember much more. James Harden had 22 points and 14 assists in his first playoff game in the Eastern Conference as a Sixer. NBA champion Joel Embiid had 19 points and 15 rebounds. They combined and made only 11 of the 32 shots from the floor. Tobias Harris scored 26 points for the Sixers, trying to advance to the second round for the first time since 2001. They host match 2 on Monday. The opener belonged to Maxey. 21-year-old Maxey is the youngest Sixer to have scored at least 30 points in a playoff game. “I saw growth, man,” Harden said. “I saw him from being up and down and not having really consistent minutes last year in the post-season until he starts and has a huge role in a team that is vying for the championship.” Maxey was cool and confident in the third as he made a 32-footer at the end of the season for a 20-point lead that put his teammates on the bench in a frenzy. The Raptors were speechless and had no answer for him: Maxi made 7 of 8 shots in total, and 3 and 5 free throws in 12 minutes. Nah! “He just does not play with stress,” said coach Doc Rivers. “There is not much that upsets him.” Pascal Shiakam scored 24 points for the Raptors, who lost rookie Scotty Barnes to an ankle injury to worsen what was already a miserable night. OG Anunoby scored 20 and Fred VanVleet added 18. The story goes on “Collectively as a team, we just did not match the intensity,” Siakam said. The Sixers took control in the first 24 minutes and Maxey stepped on the throne in the third against a team that won the season 3-1 (with Embiid and Harden in the lineup for the last two). Maxey, the 6-foot energy package in his second season outside of Kentucky, led the quick start with a pair of 3s and 10 quick points that the Sixers had a double-digit lead. The Sixers are the team of Ebid and Harden, and as far as they go, the Sixers go too. But Maxey gives the 76ers a Big 2 3/4 and was more than just a capable replacement for Ben Simmons. Maxey emerged as a credible scoring option – 18.7 points and 48% at 3 after the All-Star break – and was targeted by the reversal against Toronto. He made 6 of 10 shots and his 15 points in the first half was too little to match last season’s high set of playoffs in the 6th game against Atlanta. Oh yes. Atlanta. The Hawks still had Philly on the sidelines this week, as the stench of three home defeats and a second-round exit as the No. 1 seed entered this season. The Raptors scored points in the 11th in the third, but Harden – the bold transaction deadline for those moments – buried a 3 and a layup. Harden then made a bounce with both hands from the middle of the court, which Maxi caught in the fight for a high, upside down lay-up. The Sixers led 18, Toronto called a timeout and the Philly crowd went frantic. The Sixers defeated the Raptors 29-10 in fast break points. “Is running. “You have to reward him,” Harden said of his top-spin pass. “He was running so fast and we had the opportunity to take advantage of the transition.” The Raptors only seriously challenged at the end of the first half. Ebid was hit with a scream after he wrestled Barnes in a ride. Barnes made 1 of 2 free throws and the Raptors scored their goal to make it 48-42. Embiid, however, made the Raptors pay a few moments later. He mocked a bucket and forced VanVleet (who fouled in the fourth) to his third foul. Embiid converted the three-point game for a 57-42 lead. Maxi got it from there. “He’s been doing this all season,” Embiid said. “It’s just a game. “We have to do it three more times.” COACH ROOM Barnes grabbed his left leg and was clearly in pain after Ebid stepped on his fourth leg. He needed help in the locker room. Barnes, Rookie of the Year contender, averaged 15.3 points in 74 games. … F Thaddeus Young leaves with a sprained ankle. Coach Nick Nurse said the X-rays on both players were negative. CRYING FOUL Nurse, who led the Raptors to the 2019 NBA Championship, thought that five fouls committed on Embiid were not enough. “I do not care if you are 11 and 160 pounds, if you beat him on the spot and he bursts, it is a foul,” said Ners. “I thought he threw three or four elbows in the face. They called him for one. We will stand in there. “ TIPS Raptors: Had just two offensive rebounds in the first half. … Chris Boucher also fouled. 76ers: Rapper Meek Mill and boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. they were sitting in the yard. … There were no upsets in the first half. He turned the ball in the first possession of the second half. and made only three in total. … Matisse Thybulle had three points in 19 minutes. He will not be available for Games 3 and 4 in Toronto because he is not fully vaccinated.
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