Author: NBA Basketball News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games

Kings rookie Maxime Raynaud leaves game vs. Suns with apparent knee injury originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Kings had to deal with injury on top of insult in their 129-102 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Friday at Mortgage Matchup Center, when rookie Maxime Raynaud went down and had to be helped to the locker room in the fourth quarter.

The young center, who has been starting in place of injured big man Domantas Sabonis, appeared to sustain a left knee injury with 4:19 left in the game. Raynaud fell to the ground clutching his knee after he was clipped on the ankle by a driving Russell Westbrook.

Raynaud has started every game since Dec. 6, averaging 14.6 points on 56.5-percent shooting with 9.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists across 11 contests during that span.

“He’s smiling, so that’s always good,” Kings coach Doug Christie told reporters of Raynaud after the game, though he didn’t have an immediate update on the rookie’s injury. “Always fingers crossed for young players. He plays so hard and he plays with his heart, and when you see stuff like that it just doesn’t necessarily sit well with you. But got my fingers crossed.”

The Kings selected Raynaud out of Stanford at No. 42 overall in the 2025 NBA Draft. On the 2025-26 NBA season, the 7-foot-1, 22-year-old is averaging 10.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 26 games.

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While the Knicks are hellbent on reaching greater heights in 2026, their captain wrapped up 2025 with yet another accolade bestowed on him by the NBA.

December was chock-full of dominance from superstar Jalen Brunson, who took home Eastern Conference Player of the Month honors on Friday. He's now a three-time recipient with the Knicks, embarking on a new calendar year with a record of 23-10, the fourth-best mark in the league.

Brunson naturally served as the Knicks' holiday season catalyst, averaging a laudable 30.6 points and 7.1 assists with a 40.5 shooting percentage from three across 14 games in December.

His knack for scoring and facilitating helped the Knicks win 10 of 14 games during the month, and following a 25-point performance in their win over the Spurs in the NBA Cup final, he received MVP honors for the in-season tournament.

So far this season, Brunson is averaging a career-high 29.4 points with 6.6 assists (30 games). The veteran All-Star has also been named Eastern Conference Player of the Week twice.

Steve Kerr explains ‘misunderstanding' that led to viral Draymond Green argument originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

After over a decade together as player and coach on the Warriors, Draymond Green and Steve Kerr are no stranger to their share of verbal disputes.

But after an in-game incident on Dec. 22 between the pair ended with Green in the locker room and online video of the spat garnering countless views, Kerr shouldered the blame for what, to many, felt like a different argument from the rest.

While both sides have moved on amicably from the situation, the Warriors coach on Tuesday explained what led to the heated interaction during an appearance on the “Tom Tolbert Show.”

“First of all, it was a misunderstanding,” Kerr told Tolbert. “Draymond was talking to the refs, and I had called a timeout because I thought we lost our focus. And I wasn’t mad at him, but he was talking to the ref for a long time, and then I see five of our players over there trying to bring him back and he had been ejected the night before. So I started yelling his name, ‘Draymond! Draymond!’ Basically just telling him to, asking him to get to the huddle.

“He thought I was yelling at him because of a turnover he had just made, and so he says something snarky, I say something back snarky, and next thing you know, we’re yelling at each other. We’re at each other’s throats, and then it all comes to bear. But I should have been calmer at that time. Like, I know Draymond so well and there’s always a buildup to these things, and he’s such an emotional player and passionate player and he had been frustrated for a couple of days, and I recognized that, but I needed to recognize it and do something about it in the huddle.

“I needed to be the the the calming force, and so we went back and forth and I regretted not being the calming calming one in that conversation.”

The Warriors ultimately won that game against the Orlando Magic in a blowout, 120-97, and have gone 3-1 since.

Both Kerr and Green are extremely competitive, as evidenced by their four NBA championships together and the several times they’ve exchanged words.

But they each are not afraid to admit when they’re wrong, and it’s clear that after apologies were exchanged on both sides, Kerr is able to look back on the whole thing with a chuckle.

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Ex-Grizzlie De'Anthony Melton says Warriors had no business winning 2022 title originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – As an opponent in May 2022, De’Anthony Melton had a microscopic view of the Warriors’ last championship team. Now that he is on their payroll, he’s comfortable going public with what many have whispered for 3.5 years.

“In ‘22, they had no business winning the championship,” Melton, then with the Memphis Grizzlies, said during a guest appearance on the “Dubs Talk” podcast, which debuted Friday. “They had no business there. There were so many teams better than them. But they just fought. They just willed their way. And everybody played, they played their role.”

Melton is not alone in that reaction. Former Golden State general manager Bob Myers admitted nobody saw it coming. Coach Steve Kerr says the ’22 NBA Finals win over the Boston Celtics was a case of coming together at the right time – and having Stephen Curry.

The Warriors entered the 2022 playoffs as the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference, with a 53-29 record. The Grizzlies finished at 56-26 to earn the No. 2 seed and homecourt advantage in the conference semifinals against Golden State.

“We wanted to kill the dynasty so bad,” Melton recalled. “You had to show us. You had to come and really show us. It was like ‘OK, why are y’all so good, why are you so great? We’re not going to lay down, let y’all tell us why, but you got to come out here and get it.

“We really felt that day in and day out, and game in and game out, we just take it game by game because you never know what could happen. Next thing you know, you could be up 3-2.”

The Grizzlies, young and impetuous, saw the Warriors as old news that should be discarded from the elite.

“Some (Warriors) got families and kids,” Melton said. “They got paid. They were paid up already. We were all young and hungry. It was like ‘Come on with it.’ ”

The teams split the first two games in Memphis before the Warriors swept Games 3 and 4 at Chase Center. A 3-1 lead is considered “commanding,” but the Grizzlies responded with a 134-95 rout in Game 5. This was, again, a series.

Golden State answered with a 110-96 win in Game 6, banishing the Grizzlies and advancing to the Western Conference finals.

“In ’22, nobody thought the Warriors were going to go on to win, you know what I mean?” Melton said. “But it was crazy to see them having to go through us and that would be one of their tougher series.”

The Warriors had the fourth-best record in the league, but the Celtics entered the playoffs as the hottest team, going 26-6 over their last 32 games. Golden State was a slight favorite because of its postseason experience and championship core.

And Curry, whose spectacular Game 4 performance – 43 points when the rest of the starting lineup combined for 35 – tilted the series and moved him to the doorstep of his first Finals MVP award.

Melton, whose favorite team a decade ago was the Oklahoma City Thunder, had a perception of Curry at that time that matched that of many outside observers: Great shooter.

Melton’s perception of Curry as a teammate much of last season and this season is, well, greatly expanded.

“He’s amazing,” Melton said. “That’s all you could say sometimes. Dudes like that, they continue to put the work in, and they love the game so much that you see them day in and day out. Before, I was seeing him on the outside looking in. Now, I’m on the inside, seeing the work he puts in, the everyday work, the consistency that he has. You can see as to why he’s continued.

“His ability to shoot the ball is out of this world, but it’s his ability to be conditioned and run around, his physicality and just be able to still be able to get open and get a shot off and stuff like that. He’s averaging pretty much 30 (points per game) now – at 37 years old. You’ve just got to admire that type of stuff and just to help as much as possible.”

That admiration, however, does not change Melton’s view of the past, something he occasionally mentions to Gary Payton II, who was a pivotal player in the ’22 Finals.

“I talk to GP still, to this day, like ‘I don’t know how y’all won it ’22,’ ” Melton said. “I don’t. I don’t. I don’t know why or how or for what.”

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How Garza's resurgence is bolstering Celtics' bench in several ways originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Maybe the most surprising recent storyline as the Boston Celtics flip the calendar to 2026: The Luka Garza resurgence.

There was a point in mid-December where it felt like Garza might stay glued to the Boston bench. The team had struggled so mightily in his floor time through the first 15 games of the season that, even with rebounding woes and a lack of pure size, the Celtics elected to simply go small when Neemias Queta wasn’t on the court. Garza logged just 27 total minutes while piling up seven DNPs over an 11-game stretch.

But on Dec. 20 in Toronto, Joe Mazzulla went back to Garza. And the 27-year-old big man was ready for his opportunity.

Garza is averaging 10.7 points and 5.8 rebounds over 22 minutes per game while Boston has posted a 5-1 record over its last six games. Garza is shooting 55.6 percent beyond the 3-point arc, and 72 percent inside of it, all while making good things happen with a heavy helping of hustle and grit.

Now it feels like Mazzulla is struggling to take Garza off the court. The Celtics’ best basketball in this stretch has often featured Garza alongside an energy-gushing bench unit.

A few numbers that jump off the page:

GARZILLA: A net rating monster

The Celtics are outscoring opponents by a team-best 29.2 points per 100 possessions during Garza’s 132 minutes of floor time in his last six games. What’s more, Boston is being outscored by 5.1 points per 100 possessions in his 156 minutes on the bench, giving him a ridiculous net rating differential of plus-34.3 in that span.

Boston is putting up wild offensive numbers with Garza on the floor the last six games with a 127.7 offensive rating. That number drops to 113.1 without him. Boston’s defensive rating is a stingy 98.5 with Garza on the floor and spikes to 118.2 without him.

It’s a rather surprising turnaround considering the Celtics had a minus-6.2 net rating over Garza’s first 15 appearances before he faded from the rotation.

Lean, mean screening machine

Since Garza reentered the rotation on Dec. 20, no one in the NBA has been credited with more screen assists than the 6-foot-10 big man. Garza’s 28 screen assists over the past six games have led to 67 points.

That number doesn’t even begin to explain his screening impact. Garza spends many offensive possessions looking like an offensive lineman trying to pancake opposing defenders. Teammates sprint off his screens, creating space that either leads to clean looks or forces opposing defenses to send help as a Boston player heads to the basket with a head of steam.

On Thursday night in Sacramento, Garza was credited with seven screen assists leading to 19 points. That was more screen assists and screen points than the Kings generated as a team (six assists leading to 13 points).

We can’t help but wonder what Jayson Tatum is thinking watching Garza’s screening ways. Tatum has thrived in the past with screen-setting big men like Daniel Theis and Luke Kornet. That could be an intriguing combo whenever Tatum is back on the court.

He’s a hustler, baby

Screen assists aren’t the only hustle stat that Garza is piling up. On Thursday night against the Kings, he also totaled a team-high four deflections, his activity routinely disrupting passing lanes.

Garza’s signature move, though, has become his flailing arms when he hits the turbo button while zooming up and down the court. Whether hustling to get back on defense, or breaking out in transition on offense, Garza always seems to be at full throttle.

The NBA’s tracking data suggests Garza’s average speed is 4.7 miles per hour over the last six games. That’s far and away the top speed on the team (next closest: Sam Hauser, 4.53).

There are still areas for Garza to improve. He has obvious defensive limitations and his defensive rebound rate is among the worst at his position. For the season, Garza has 61 offensive rebounds but only 40 on the defensive end. Over the past six games, he’s grabbed 23 offensive rebounds but only 12 on the defensive side.

But you can’t quibble with the effort. Garza sometimes sacrifices defensive boards while trying to simply put a body on an opposing big. He was credited with six of Boston’s nine box outs in Thursday’s win in Sacramento, including five of Boston’s six on the defensive end.

The Celtics have repeatedly pledged a desire to be the hardest playing team. Garza embodies that. He makes up for his limitations with a full-throttle nature. His finishing around the basket has improved since rejoining the rotation and a 74.2 percent effective field goal percentage in that span is among the best at his position.

As the Celtics try to get more consistency from other bench pieces, Garza is showing that good things can happen if you simply put an emphasis on playing hard.

Depth has not been the Knicks’ calling card over the past few years. But over the past month, it’s become more common to expect head coach Mike Brown to go to a 10-man rotation. In New York’s last two games against the San Antonio Spurs and New Orleans Pelicans, 11 Knicks have played in close games.

Not much was expected from any of the Knicks’ first or second year players coming into this new season. The past couple of weeks, several of New York’s youngsters have stepped up and contributed to wins. In the process, the group has altered the ceiling of this roster both for this year and in the future.

Tyler Kolek has led the way among New York’s youth movement. The 24-year old point guard has assumed a spot in New York’s rotation over the last handful of games and has even seen crunch time minutes in significant moments like New York’s NBA Cup win against the Spurs. In the past couple of weeks, Kolek has a 16-point, nine-assist Christmas Day performance, and 20 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists while filling in as a starter against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Second-year player Kevin McCullar Jr. had 13 points, eight rebounds, and two steals in New York’s Saturday night win over the Atlanta Hawks. In Monday night’s victory against the Pelicans, rookie second-round pick Mohamed Diawara emerged, knocking down four threes and scoring 18 points in 16 minutes.

As young players, they’re not always going to have standout games. But it doesn’t feel like the Knicks are having to rely heavily on any of the youngsters to consistently produce. In Wednesday night’s loss to the Spurs, Kolek had three points in 15 minutes while McCullar and Diawara both saw under 10 minutes of action. 

The presence of the three aforementioned players adds depth to a Knicks bench that has looked thin at times. Landry Shamet and Miles McBride both have missed time with injuries and reserve forward Guerschon Yabusele has been ineffective. The performances from Kolek, McCullar and Diawara have come just at the right time.

Another added bonus is the size of both Diawara and McCullar on the wing. Diawara is listed as 6-foot-9 with a 7-foot-4 wingspan. McCullar is 6-foot-5 with a 6-foot-9 wingspan. One of the concerns has been New York’s lack of size on the perimeter outside of the trio of OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, and Josh Hart. New York’s bench has trended towards small with McBride, Shamet, and Jordan Clarkson seeing significant time during the early stages of the season.

Future play

The growth of players like Kolek, Diawara, and McCullar will also be important to New York’s future. The club has the second-highest payroll in the NBA for the 2025-26 season behind the Cleveland Cavaliers. According to Spotrac, the Knicks are currently just $148,358 beneath the second apron.

After the most recent collective bargaining agreement, teams that exceed the second apron face the most stringent penalties, such as not being able to use the taxpayer midlevel exception to sign free agents or aggregating multiple salaries in a trade.

One way to combat an escalating payroll is drafting well and signing incoming draft picks to modest salaries at a fixed cost. Kolek and Diawara make just under a combined $3.5 million this year. McCullar is on a two-way deal. 

The Knicks have five players making $19 million a year or more. With Mitchell Robinson set to become an unrestricted free agent after the season and McBride potentially heading towards free agency in the Summer of 2027, the Knicks need to develop players to be a part of the rotation in the future.

That puts a spotlight on player development, a weakness of the Knicks for much of this century. Developing young, homegrown talent will be a decisive factor in New York being able to build around its core and field a championship contender this year and beyond.

Warriors rule Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green out vs. Thunder originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors will face the reigning NBA champions without their three star players.

Steph Curry (ankle), Jimmy Butler (illness) and Draymond Green (rest) all have been ruled out of Friday’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Chase Center.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr first confirmed the news to Bonta Hill and Evan Giddings on Friday morning on 95.7 The Game.

Veteran guard De’Anthony Melton (knee, injury management) also will sit, in addition to Seth Curry as he continues to recover from a sciatic nerve-related injury.

It is the first game of a back-to-back for Golden State, which will host the Utah Jazz on Saturday.

Al Horford (sciatic nerve irritation) is probable.

Golden State (18-16) certainly will have its hands full against the reigning champs, who are 29-5 and dominating the Western Conference.

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Warriors' Draymond Green addresses viral interaction with elderly Nets fan originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Draymond Green enjoyed himself during the Warriors’ 120-107 win on Monday at Barclays Center.

Aside from securing the victory, Green had fun with all the extracurricular activities throughout the course of the game, including a viral exchange with Nets superfan, Mr. Wammy.

“There’s a lot being said about my interaction with Mr. Wammy last night. I had so much fun in last night’s game from the moment with Mr. Wammy, moments with the Nets players, Terance Mann getting mad, so I had a lot of fun in that game,” Green said on “The Draymond Green Show.” “It was a great, fun game. A good time. That was beautiful. But the interaction with Mr. Wammy, I don’t think it’s fair for someone to come stand next to the rim and throw up gang signs. I think it’s crazy that they just let this old man come and stand right next to the rim, not in a seat, not in an aisle. This man is standing right next to the rim.

“And if you think about us, basketball is muscle memory. It’s repetition. I’ve seen this same picture over and over and over again. And then there’s this old guy just standing there throwing up gang signs. So I see him before the first free throw, so I tell myself I’ve got to make this free throw so I can tell him to sit his old ass down. So I made the first free throw, and I walk over to him and tell him to sit his old ass down. Me and Jimmy [Butler] are cracking up laughing. But once I told him to sit down, it was so much pressure on me to make the next free throw. I had to make the next free throw. But that was an incredible moment.

“Sometimes you get lost in the game. Needless to say, I actually wanted to go talk to Mr. Wammy after the game, but I just completely forgot. But shoutout to Mr. Wammy. That was a fun interaction. I appreciate allowing me to have that interaction. He was a great sport about it. He laughed. We all laughed. It was beautiful to see.”

Green thrives off that type of energy, and it helped the Warriors along their path to a needed, bounce-back victory.

Oftentimes, we’ve seen Green have similar interactions with fans or opposing players that have derailed the Warriors’ success. But this playful exchange was nothing but a good laugh for both parties.

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De'Anthony Melton shares thoughtful response to Warriors trading him last season originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

De’Anthony Melton had no hard feelings toward the Warriors after they traded him to the Brooklyn Nets in December of last season.

Melton was off to a strong start with Golden State before he tore his ACL and had season-ending surgery before being shipped to the East Coast.

Speaking to NBC Sports Bay Area’s Monte Poole and Bonta Hill on “Dubs Talk,” Melton recalled what he felt when the Warriors traded him.

“Honestly, I understand business is business,” Melton said. “At the same time, given what my contract was, the mid-level, that’s a serviceable player. You want someone like that who’s going to provide something good for your team. With me going down, and the dip the team took, I understood and I kind of saw it coming. And I think talking with Mike [Dunleavy] and talking with Steve [Kerr], they kind of helped me with that situation, too.

“So I had a feeling it was coming and I understood it. When it was on the horizon, I told them it’s OK. I said, ‘Honestly, I would trade me, too.’ You want someone who’s going to do good for your team and I’m not playing the rest of the year, so it’s something we can re-rock later in the year or next year when it’s time.”

And the Warriors did just that.

Melton’s split from Golden State was short-lived, as the Warriors all summer intended to bring him back this season.

The veteran guard had an inkling about that, too.

“Yeah, I kind of knew,” he said. “Some of the guys checking up on me, from staff to players, to see how I was doing, see how my process was going. So I think that was very helpful for me, to see a team that cares and see players that care, too. So I had a feeling. And obviously the money and stuff, everything worked out.

“So I’m just happy to be back here.”

Melton’s start to the 2025-26 NBA season with the Warriors hasn’t been as promising as his first Warriors stint last year. Through six games since returning from his ACL injury, Melton is averaging just 6.7 points on 28.6-percent shooting from the field and 13.6 percent from 3-point range, with 1.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 18 minutes.

Melton at times has been much more impactful on the other end of the floor, though.

And that could be a step in the right direction to eventually get going on offense.

Nonetheless, Melton is happy to be back in the Bay with the Dubs, and they’re equally as happy about his return.

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NEW YORK (AP) — Kevin Durant had 22 points and a season-high 11 assists, Amen Thompson scored 23 points and the Houston Rockets beat the Brooklyn Nets 120-96 on Thursday night for their fourth straight victory.

Alperen Sengun had 20 points, six rebounds and six assists after a two-game absence for the Rockets, who started fast in both halves to win in Brooklyn for the first time in seven years. Tari Eason finished with 15 points and nine rebounds, and Jabari Smith Jr. and Reed Sheppard each scored 14 points.

Sengun was 8 for 12 from the floor after sitting out two games with a left calf injury.

Cam Thomas scored 21 points for the Nets, who dropped their second straight after winning three in a row for the only time this season. Ziaire Williams added 14.

Michael Porter Jr., who leads the Nets with a career-high 25.8 points per game, missed the game with an illness along with injured starting guards Egor Demin and Terance Mann. Without them, Brooklyn never led in its first home loss to Houston since Nov. 2, 2018, after winning the last six meetings.

The Nets went 7-4 in December and allowed an NBA-low 104.6 points per game, but the Rockets jumped on them immediately to start the new year. Houston made its first seven shots en route to a 16-5 lead, went up by 14 in the second quarter and took a 53-42 advantage to the break.

Houston then made its first five three-pointers and started 8 for 9 overall in the second half. Smith and Eason each hit two threes and Thompson made one in a 19-5 run that extended their 11-point lead to 74-49 when Smith hit back-to-back threes.

The Rockets played without centers Steven Adams (sprained right ankle) and Clint Capela (illness).

Up next

Rockets: Visit Dallas on Saturday.

Nets: Visit Washington on Friday.

Observations after Maxey nearly posts triple-double in Sixers' win over Mavs  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Tyrese Maxey was just two rebounds shy of his second career triple-double Thursday night in Dallas.

He led the Sixers to a 123-108 victory at American Airlines Center by tallying 34 points, 10 assists, eight rebounds and two steals.

The Sixers improved to 18-14 this season. Dallas dropped to 12-23.

VJ Edgecombe posted 23 points, five rebounds and four steals. Joel Embiid had 22 points, six assists and four boards.

Kelly Oubre Jr. (left knee LCL sprain) and Trendon Watford (left adductor strain) were still out for the Sixers. 

The Sixers are now 2-2 on their road trip and will close it out Saturday night against the Knicks. Here are observations on the team’s win over the Mavs:

Defense late to the party again  

For the third straight game, the Sixers’ stops were minimal in the early going.

Dallas began 9 for 10 from the floor and took a 20-14 lead when Cooper Flagg burst forward for a fast-break jam.

The Sixers gave the Mavs far too many opportunities to score inside and allowed 26 first-quarter points in the paint. Overall, the Sixers’ defense has not been stellar this season in first quarters. Ahead of Thursday night’s game, here was the team’s defensive rating by quarter:

• First quarter: 119.4 (22nd in NBA)
• Second quarter: 109.6 (Fourth)
• Third quarter: 123.6 (30th)
• Fourth quarter: 104.3 (First) 

Across the Sixers’ last three games, their opponents have combined to start a staggering 25 for 27 from the field (92.6 percent). 

Sixers’ stars key big, entertaining second quarter 

Offensively, the Sixers’ stars flowed together nicely and spearheaded an excellent second quarter.

Maxey sped past Caleb Martin and laid the ball in as his former teammate stumbled to the floor. Embiid assisted a Quentin Grimes corner three. Paul George drove through the Mavs’ defense and threw down a dunk that delighted his teammates.

The Sixers went up 11 points late in the second quarter when Edgecombe drained a long-range jumper. Edgecombe was one of the Sixers’ four double-figure scorers in the first half. Grimes added eight second-quarter points, too.

Edgecombe is up to nine 20-point games in the NBA, including six over his last eight outings.

Grimes plays important part in Sixers closing it out  

The Sixers used five players off the bench. Grimes logged 38 minutes as their sixth man.

Justin Edwards was the odd man out and Jabari Walker returned to the rotation after Dominick Barlow picked up two early fouls. Andre Drummond got the first crack at backup center minutes, but Adem Bona assumed that role in the second half and also got a stint next to Embiid for the last 84 seconds of the second quarter.

Barlow never escaped his foul trouble and ultimately committed his sixth personal with 7:33 left in the fourth quarter. Bona replaced him.

As they had in their Dec. 20 loss to the Sixers, the Mavs shoot poorly from three-point territory, going 6 for 28. Even without much three-point assistance, Dallas cut its deficit to 94-90 on a Naji Marshall leaner early in the fourth quarter.

The Sixers then produced a stretch of big-time shotmaking across the board.

Maxey kept delivering driving buckets and had a true do-it-all performance. Embiid buried a tightly guarded mid-range jumper, Grimes made a wing three and the Sixers’ lead was soon back in double digits.

Grimes played his best game in weeks with 19 points on 7-for-9 shooting, seven rebounds and two assists.

Edgecombe’s hustle and defense shined as his team neared the finish line, Grimes nailed an important jumper to snap a late 7-0 Mavs run, and the Sixers gave themselves a shot at a winning road trip.

Observations after Maxey nearly posts triple-double in Sixers' win over Mavs  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Tyrese Maxey was just two rebounds shy of his second career triple-double Thursday night in Dallas.

He led the Sixers to a 123-108 victory at American Airlines Center by tallying 34 points, 10 assists, eight rebeounds and two steals.

The Sixers improved to 18-14 this season and 2-2 on their five-game road trip. Dallas dropped to 12-23.

VJ Edgecombe posted 23 points, five rebounds and four steals. Joel Embiid had 22 points, six assists and four boards.

Kelly Oubre Jr. (left knee LCL sprain) and Trendon Watford (left adductor strain) were still out for the Sixers. 

The Sixers are now 2-2 on their road trip and will close it out Saturday night against the Knicks. Here are observations on the team’s win over the Mavs:

Defense late to the party again  

For the third straight game, the Sixers’ stops were minimal in the early going.

Dallas began 9 for 10 from the floor and took a 20-14 lead when Cooper Flagg burst forward for a fast-break jam.

The Sixers gave the Mavs far too many opportunities to score inside and allowed 26 first-quarter points in the paint. Overall, the Sixers’ defense has not been stellar this season in first quarters. Ahead of Thursday night’s game, here’s the team’s defensive rating by quarter:

• First quarter: 119.4 (22nd in NBA)
• Second quarter: 109.6 (Fourth)
• Third quarter: 123.6 (30th)
• Fourth quarter: 104.3 (First) 

Across the Sixers’ last three games, their opponents have combined to start a staggering 25 for 27 from the field (92.6 percent). 

Sixers’ stars key big, entertaining second quarter 

Offensively, the Sixers’ stars flowed together nicely and spearheaded an excellent second quarter.

Maxey sped past Caleb Martin and laid the ball in as his former teammate stumbled to the floor. Embiid assisted a Quentin Grimes corner three. Paul George drove through the Mavs’ defense and threw down a dunk that delighted his teammates.

The Sixers went up 11 points late in the second quarter when Edgecombe drained a long-range jumper. Edgecombe was one of the Sixers’ four double-figure scorers in the first half. Grimes added eight second-quarter points, too.

Edgecombe is up to nine 20-point games in the NBA, including six over his last eight outings.

Grimes plays important part in Sixers closing it out  

The Sixers used five players off the bench. Grimes logged 38 minutes as their sixth man.

Justin Edwards was the odd man out and Jabari Walker returned to the rotation after Dominick Barlow picked up two early fouls. Andre Drummond got the first crack at backup center minutes, but Adem Bona assumed that role in the second half and also got a stint next to Embiid for the last 84 seconds of the second quarter.

Barlow never escaped his foul trouble and ultimately committed his sixth personal with 7:33 left in the fourth quarter. Bona replaced him.

As they had in their Dec. 20 loss to the Sixers, the Mavs shoot poorly from three-point territory, going 6 for 28. Even without much three-point assistance, Dallas cut its deficit to 94-90 on a Naji Marshall leaner early in the fourth quarter.

The Sixers then produced a stretch of big-time shotmaking across the board.

Maxey kept delivering driving buckets and had a true do-it-all performance. Embiid buried a tightly guarded mid-range jumper, Grimes made a wing three and the Sixers’ lead was soon back in double digits.

Grimes played his best game in weeks with 19 points on 7-for-9 shooting, seven rebounds and two assists.

Edgecombe’s hustle and defense shined as his team neared the finish line, Grimes nailed an important jumper to snap a late 7-0 Mavs run, and the Sixers gave themselves a shot at a winning road trip.