TYRESE Maxey poured in a career-high 52 points and Ricky Council IV and KJ Martin had big baskets in the second overtime as the visiting Philadelphia Sixers outlasted the San Antonio Spurs 133-126 on Sunday (Monday in Manila).
A three-point play by Council tied the score 126-126 with 3:04 left in the second OT and two free throws by Council with 1:56 to play gave the Sixers a two-point lead. Nicolas Batum then canned a 3-pointer and Martin followed with a dunk on the break–the game’s final points–with 1:09 left to push Philadelphia’s lead to seven.
Kelly Oubre Jr. added 26 points for the Sixers, who have won five straight. Paul Reed and Council had 11 each and Buddy Hield scored 10. Reed also grabbed a team-high of 10 rebounds. Philadelphia was without Joel Embiid (knee surgery recovery) and Tobias Harris (knee contusion).
Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs with 33 points, 18 rebounds, seven blocked shots and six assists. Malaki Branham added 22 points and Champagnie and Tre Jones had 17 points each for San Antonio.
In other games, it was the Clippers 120, Cavs 118; Mavs 147, Rockets 136 (OT); Pacers 117, Heat 115; Celtics 124, Blazers 107; Warriors 118, Jazz 110; Thunder 121, Hornets 118; Raptors 130, Wizards 122; Pelicans 113, Suns 105; Kings 107, Nets 77; Knicks 122, Bucks 109; Magic 113, Bulls 98; and Wolves 127, Lakers 117.
Clippers 120, Cavs 118
Paul George scored 23 of his 39 points in the fourth quarter, including a tiebreaking jumper with 7.1 seconds left, and Los Angeles rallied from a 26-point deficit to beat visiting Cleveland.
George blocked Darius Garland’s layup with 1.7 seconds left, and the Clippers sealed the comeback victory after Max Strus missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.
George finished with 11 rebounds and seven assists for Los Angeles. James Harden added 22 points for the Clippers. Garland led Cleveland with 28 points. Strus and Evan Mobley scored 20 points apiece.
Mavs 147, Rockets 136 (OT)
Kyrie Irving scored 25 of his season-high 48 points in the fourth quarter and overtime, and Dante Exum’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer to close regulation helped Dallas complete a comeback from down as many as 22 points to stun Houston.
The Mavericks capitalized on three missed Houston free throws in the final 25 seconds of regulation, including a pair by Jabari Smith Jr. with eight seconds left and the Rockets leading by three points, to force overtime.
Dillon Brooks led the Rockets with a season-high 29 points and shot 5-of-6 from 3-point range. Jalen Green added 21 points, eight assists and six rebounds, and Jock Landale chipped in 13 points off the bench.
