The Philadelphia 76ers entered their game against the Washington Wizards on Wednesday night eager to erase the stench of their 125-124 loss to the injury-riddled Denver Nuggets 48 hours prior. It took the 76ers only three quarters to cast off the Wizards, but it’s not the win itself that should encourage fans–it was the shared dominance of their big three.
Philadelphia (20-15) handled business against Washington (10-26) 131-110 at Xfinity Mobile Arena last night. Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey powered the team's win, each scoring at least 20 points for the first time together. This feat reflects the growing chemistry between them, which began to take shape in recent weeks. While they simply did what they were supposed to, their cohesion indicates steps in the right direction.
Having offensive success against the Wizards–who rank 29th league-wide in defensive rating–isn’t cause for a parade on Broad Street. However, yesterday was one of the few occasions where the 76ers’ trio carried them to victory. Their bench struggled, registering 34 points, with Quentin Grimes and Andre Drummond scoring 14 and 11, respectively in an inconsequential fourth quarter.
Embiid–who played his fifth game in nine days–led all scorers with 28 points on 10-14 shooting from the field, seven rebounds and two blocks. He and Maxey ran their two-man actions to perfection, which gave Embiid opportunities to settle into his mid-range game and let it fly from three-point range, where he shot 1-2. The nine-time All-Star was equally as impactful off the dribble, routinely besting Alex Sarr, who let Embiid shoot 8-11 from the field when guarding him.
When Washington double-teamed the center in the first quarter, he detected George in the opposite corner and the forward cashed in the triple. That lone possession was indicative of his 23-point performance that featured five assists and four three-pointers. George thrived off the catch, as two of Philadelphia’s seven offensive rebounds yielded him threes. He also exploited one-on-one coverage with flurries of pull-up shots within the arc, shooting 7-11 from the field.
Maxey’s 22 points, on the other hand, were a product of opportunistic scoring instead of half-court action. The Wizards blitzed the one-time all-star off screens, so he had mostly to rely on transition to get his own. Maxey scorched Washington for above-the-break threes and layups while its defense was unset. The 76ers ran off-ball screen plays to get him going in the halfcourt to moderate results, but the creativity should be applauded. He finished with eight assists as well.
While Maxey/Embiid pick-and-rolls continue to headline Philadelphia’s offensive process, it's beginning to see the rest of the team fit in. Whether George is spacing the floor or Dominick Barlow is dive-cutting to the rim, the 76ers are boasting a more cohesive offense due to the chemistry that’s being built. Though a win over the Wizards isn’t a landmark, it’s a step and when it comes to forming an identity, no step can go untouched.