Injured 76ers Pulloff Comeback Victory Over Grizzlies, Close Out Game On 32-14 Run

The 76ers’ backups finally get a win.

After announcing pregame that 76ers’ star guard and MVP candidate Tyrese Maxey would miss the next three weeks with a pinky injury, Nick Nurse’s squad shook off the announcement and put together one of their best team performances in weeks.

In a matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies, another team that has struggled with injuries this season, Philadelphia managed to stay in the game throughout the night, battling back from a 14-point deficit and a nine-point deficit in the fourth quarter to come from behind and win 139-129. The 76ers closed out the game on a 32-14 run over the final nine minutes of action.

With their normal first, second, and third scoring options out, the 76ers leaned on Kelly Oubre Jr. and Cam Payne for the majority of their production. They came ready as both veterans recorded 30-point double-doubles, with Oubre finishing with 31 points and 12 rebounds, while Payne led the game with a career-high 32 points and added 10 assists off the bench. Payne also went 8-for-8 from beyond the arc and missed just one field goal all night.

Despite both teams missing multiple starters, it was the battle between both teams’ third and fourth options to decide a winner in this one. Memphis jumped out to an early lead in this one, thanks in large part to one of the few bright spots on their season in rookie Cedric Coward.

Coward opened up the game with nine points in the first five minutes of action, while Ty Jerome added eight points of his own. For the 76ers, Oubre seemed like the only one who played interested in scoring as he knocked down 11 of the 76ers’ first 17 points of the game.

Following a three-pointer from GG Jackson II, the Grizzlies led 29-20 with under three minutes to play in the first quarter, but the 76ers finally got a run going. Five straight points from free throws and back-to-back paint makes from Trendon Watford and Jabari Walker tied the game at 29, and an and-one layup and free throw from Quentin Grimes made it a three-point lead for Philadelphia. Cam Spencer drilled a long three to end the 12-0 76ers run as teams went tied into the second quarter, tied at 32.

The back-and-forth scoring continued in the second quarter as both teams answered each other’s shots. Payne had the hot hand to open the quarter for Philadelphia, scoring 11 straight points for the 76ers. Coward and Jaylen Wells kept the Grizzlies in the game, while the 76ers’ star rookie VJ Edgecombe finally got going with seven points.

Tied at 64 with under two minutes until half, Rayan Rupert knocked down back-to-back shots, and Spencer added a layup for Memphis to retake the lead. Watford knocked down a midrange bucket of his own, and Oubre added two free throws, but couldn’t muster up another shot before half, as the 76ers trailed 71-68 heading into the break.

Out of the half, Jerome had the hot hand for Memphis, drilling all four of his second-half shots for a quick 10 points. Four points from Spencer added to the Grizzlies’ lead, as the 76ers struggled to get any run of their own going throughout the start of the third quarter.

That changed when the 76ers trailed 97-83, as they went on another huge run to cut it back to a two-possession game. Grimes started things out with five straight points, and threes from Payne and Dalen Terry added threes to cut it single digits. Two more from Grimes and two from Edgecombe right before the final buzzer made it 104-98 heading into the fourth.

Back-and-forth both teams went to open the fourth, both hitting multiple threes and knocking down clutch free throws. Trailing by 8 after the first three minutes of the quarter, the 76ers went on a huge run to retake the lead.

It started with five points from Oubre and continued with a three from Payne and tough buckets from Dominick Barlow. While the 76ers continued scoring, the Grizzlies did the exact opposite and missed shot after shot, allowing the 76ers to grow their lead.

Following an and-one layup free throw from Barlow, the 76ers led by 10 with under four to play. Javon Small finally hit a shot for Memphis, drilling a three; however, Payne fired back one of his own, his eighth of the game, to keep the lead at 10.

Up 133-123, the 76ers continued to lock all windows and doors and prevented the Grizzlies from going on any run. With just over a minute left, Jerome was ejected, effectively ending the game. The benches emptied following the ejection, and the 76ers held on for the 10-point win.

Get New Articles Emailed Right To Your Inbox: