The Philadelphia 76ers leaned on a historic night from Tyrese Maxey to hold off the Miami Heat 124-117 on Thursday, delivering a statement win in Philadelphia.
Maxey etched his name into franchise history by surpassing Allen Iverson as the Sixers’ all-time leader in 3-pointers. Entering the game just three shy of the record, Maxey wasted no time, knocking down five shots from beyond the arc and finishing with 28 points and 11 assists in a dynamic all-around performance.
The milestone moment came with 1:38 remaining in the first quarter, part of a blistering opening stretch that saw Maxey pour in 20 points in the period alone while making all five of his 3-point attempts — a career-high for a single quarter. Now in his sixth NBA season, the 25-year-old guard has already racked up 887 made 3s, eclipsing Iverson’s mark despite the Hall of Famer spending more than a decade with the franchise.
Philadelphia appeared in control early, building a commanding 73-57 halftime lead behind efficient offense and strong interior play from Joel Embiid. The reigning MVP delivered 26 points and 11 rebounds, while Kelly Oubre Jr. added 21 points to keep the Heat defense under pressure.
But Miami refused to fold. Behind a dominant effort from Bam Adebayo, who posted 29 points and 14 rebounds, the Heat stormed back to erase the deficit and tie the game late in the third quarter. Tyler Herro added 25 points, including a go-ahead 3-pointer with 2:44 remaining that briefly gave Miami its first lead of the night.
That advantage didn’t last. Maxey responded with poise, sinking two clutch free throws before setting up Oubre for a critical 3-pointer that swung momentum back to Philadelphia. Embiid followed with a dagger triple with 29.2 seconds left, sealing the victory as the Sixers closed on a decisive run while holding Miami scoreless down the stretch.
The win marks Philadelphia’s third straight after a four-game skid, signaling a return to form at a crucial point in the season. Meanwhile, Miami has now dropped two consecutive games and will look to regroup quickly.
Next up, the Heat return home to host Houston on Saturday, while the 76ers hit the road for a marquee matchup in Boston on Sunday night.
