A look at key observations from the Philadelphia 76ers' win against the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday.
The Philadelphia 76ers (41-33) emerged victorious in a highly competitive matchup against the Charlotte Hornets (39-35) on Saturday with a final score of 118-114.
Here's a look at key observations from the game:
76ers' Big Three Thrives
This marked just the 18th time this season Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George were on the floor together, and the trio did not disappoint.
Embiid once again ended as the team's leading scorer, finishing with 29 points, six rebounds, and two assists on 42.1% shooting and 3 of 6 shooting from three-point range in 36 minutes of action. It's worth noting the majority of his production came in the first half.
George continues to perform at a high level coming off his 25-game suspension, recording 25 points, 13 rebounds, four steals, and two assists on 47.4% shooting.
This was Maxey's return from a roughly three-week absence due to injury. He tallied 26 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds on 55.6% shooting and 50% shooting from three-point range in 43 minutes.
Charlotte's Backcourt Disappoints On Offense
LaMelo Ball and Kon Knueppel (as well as forward Brandon Miller) are relied on as the Hornets' primary scorers. Both were inefficient against the 76ers.
Ball scored 20 points on 7 of 26 shooting and 5 of 18 shooting from the arc while Knueppel concluded with 11 points on 21.4% shooting and 3 of 10 shooting from three-point range. However, it's worth mentioning the guard tandem contributed in other facets, as Ball had eight assists and Knueppel brought down 11 rebounds.
Hornets Dominate Rebounding Battle
Hornets center Moussa Diabate and company were simply outworking the 76ers in the paint almost all night, especially on the offensive end. Charlotte finished with 52 total rebounds, 20 of which were offensive compared to Philadelphia's 41 total and just seven offensive.
The Hornets had a plethora of second-chance points thanks to Diabate and others' hustle, which nearly cost the 76ers this crucial win.
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