Los Angeles: The Los Angeles Lakers, who are missing superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis, defeated the NBA-leading Boston Celtics on Thursday, with Tyrese Maxey scoring 51 points to lead Philadelphia over Utah.
Austin Reaves led the Lakers to a season-high 32 points in their 114-105 triumph, noting afterward that he and the rest of the Lakers had taken James’ direct demand after Tuesday’s loss to Atlanta to “just go out and do your job.”
“It’s a great message,” he told TNT. “And coming from the greatest player ever, in my opinion, that’s what we should do.”
In other news, 76ers guard Maxey and Knicks forward Jalen Brunson put on impressive performances to celebrate their first career All-Star selections.
Maxey scored a career-high 51 points to lead the Sixers to a hard-fought 127-124 victory over the Jazz in Utah, an uplifting climax to a day that saw the 76ers tensely awaiting word on how long they’ll be without injured star Joel Embiid.
Brunson scored 40 points as the Knicks secured a tenth straight victory, 109-105 over the Indiana Pacers.
Maxey, who had missed three games due to an ankle ailment, returned to assist the 76ers overcome the absence of reigning NBA MVP Joel Embiid.
The 76ers announced Thursday that Embiid had been diagnosed with a lateral meniscus tear and would be sidelined at least until the weekend as physicians devised a treatment plan.
The Cameroonian star was injured on Tuesday after Golden State’s Jonathan Kuminga landed on his leg while scrambling for a loose ball.
Maxey stated that when he discovered Embiid would be sidelined, he was determined to play despite the fact that his ankle was still not fully healed.
“I was about to sit again,” he informed TNT. “But I was like, man I’m not leaving my team out there, I’ve got to go out there and compete and we’ve got to get one ‘W’ on this road trip.”
Maxey surpassed his previous career best of 50 points, established on November 12 versus Indiana.
