Sixers vs. Lakers Recap: No Answers for Mad Maxey, Council & More Shine

The Sixers came into this game on a two-game “winning streak”, and while a multitude of Sixers starters were out including Embiid, the only thing that mattered (at least for fans high on hopium like myself) was Tyrese Maxey was healthy.

While Embiid has faced countless questions this year regarding his health (and the 76ers level of clarity and communication), his baseline talent level is undeniable. As it stands, Embiid is one of only three active players with at least three games with at least 40 points and 20 rebounds (the other two are Anthony Davis and Giannis).

For now though, all sixers fans can do is day dream about what this team could look like with all of its pieces healthy (and without one of them driving through a throng of drunk Eagles fans while using their injured hand to do it):

Let me paint you a mental picture: you are black out drunk on Broad St. with 1000s of Eagles fans celebrating a Super Bowl birth, and a legitimately insane human being is trying to drive his car through the crowd… and he gets closer then you realize it is Paul George#Eagles #Philadelphia #Sixers

— Vote The Process (@votetheprocess.bsky.social) 2025-01-27T04:28:45.961Z

But the 76ers still have Maxey, one of the most talented players in the entire league (stats to back that claim up below), and Sixers fans who tuned into this game likely did so with at least a glimmer of hope that this team could figure out a way to beat LeBron and the Lakers and potentially turn what once looked like a lost season around based on their last two wins, one of which came against the Cavs who at one point owned the best winning streak of this NBA season.

To say the game started badly was an understatement, as the Lakers jumped out to a quick 8-2 lead, and all of their points were either easy layups or second-chance opportunities.

Yabu 🚂 coming through!

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixersnba.bsky.social) 2025-01-29T00:42:28.165Z

After Yabu and Maxey straight up willing points out of this team, the Sixers found themselves down 18-13 with 3:46 on the clock in the first quarter after a fadeaway where Maxey simply rose up and hit nothing but net.

Yabusele promptly followed that up with an aggressive drive to the hoop and slammed it home to get the Lakers’ lead down to just three points while forcing an LA timeout.

It came as no surprise that 14 first-quarter points from Maxey after levitating to swish a baseline jumper led to a tie game at 23-23 with less than a minute left in the quarter.

As the second quarter wore on, the 76ers took advantage of Laker turnovers, Adem Bona turned into a rebounding machine, and Maxey continued showing everyone why he’s one of only two players in the NBA averaging at 25 rebounds and two steals per game with full-speed, flying drives and mind-boggling finishes, kissing the ball high off the glass at insane angles on numerous occasions.

As a result, the score sat at 38-32 in favor of Philadelphia midway through the second quarter.

The Lakers eventually ended an 8-0 Philly run that had the score at 68-53. Who else but Maxey answered in the blink of an eye with another full-tilt drive, while Ricky Council ended the half by nailing a corner three and giving the Sixers a 16-point lead.

The fight and effort from this team despite Embiid, Paul George, Drummond, and both Martins being out was impressive. Maxey ended the half leading the 76ers in points with 27 (season-high for Maxey in terms of first-half points), which marked his 15th 20-point half (ranks second in the NBA this year for most 20-point halves).

Yabusele, Maxey, Gordon, and Oubre all had double-digit points in the half and it damn near brought at tear to my eye seeing this entire team play fast, contribute, and rebound.

the rook over the vet!

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixersnba.bsky.social) 2025-01-29T02:10:27.089Z

The Sixers continued their fast play in the second half and Maxey continued dominating. After another Maxey three (his 32nd point of the game), the 76ers were up 80-65 halfway through the third quarter.

After an absolute brick by LeBron James after launching a three, Maxey hit another off-balance, baseline fadeaway and followed that up by driving strong to the hoop and lofting a perfect floater through the hoop, which set the score at 99-72 in favor of Philly.

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The Lakers looked for answers all over the court and from every position to math the Sixers’ scoring barrage, but they found no answers as midway through the fourth quarter the Sixers still had a comfortable, 20+ point lead with 8:33 left in the game after Oubre created his own shot by faking and twisting for a flying fadeaway jumper round the free-throw line.

Ricky Council proved to be an x-factor for Philly as he hit multiple clutch corner threes, including one where he was falling into the crowd and practically 360 no-scoped that thang.

By the end of the night, Council had 16 points (third most on the team), and was an absolute monster on the glass with six rebounds (second-most)

Ricky Council IV put some SAUCE on this SLAM 😤 pic.twitter.com/5RyPr3DGdz

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) January 29, 2025

As a team, the 76ers beat the Lakers out in:

• Rebounds
• Steals
• Assists
• Fewest turnovers
• Three-point percentage
• Points in the paint
• Second chance points
• Points off fast breaks

Maxey, Council, Yabusele, Gordon, and Oubre all finished with at least 14 points, two assists, and three boards.

Today, Maxey ranks third in steals per game and seventh in the NBA in points per game (third among point guards), eighth in usage percentage, 10th in field goals made per game (sixth among PGs), and 14th in threes made per game (seventh among PGs).

He also has the eighth-highest usage percentage amongst PGs and is averaging the second-highest distance run per game.

Now on an OFFICAL winning streak, Sixers fans have as much reason for optimism as they’ve had since they stopped watching a week or so ago, and we haven’t even seen a fully healthy Sixers core play together consistently yet (and maybe we never will), making their recent three-game streak all the more impressive.

For now, Sixers fans can sleep dreaming about more 40-point games from Tyrese Maxey while Philadelphia competes against other top teams in the East to possibly make that playoff run we’ve all been pining for.

First, they have to pull themselves out of the Eastern Conference basement their early-season struggles almost locked them in.