Tyrese Maxey scores 43 points as Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Orlando Magic without Joel Embiid

The Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Orlando Magic 136-124, improving their season record to 3-0 despite the absence of star center Joel Embiid.

Tyrese Maxey led the Sixers with 43 points, including a crucial stretch of eight consecutive points in the fourth quarter, and is averaging 37.0 points per game. Rookie VJ Edgecombe contributed 26 points, bringing his total to 75 points over three games, while Kelly Oubre Jr. added 25 points.

Embiid, the 2023 MVP, was sidelined to rest his surgically repaired left knee after playing limited minutes in the first two games of the season, but the team performed well without him.

For the Magic, Paolo Banchero scored 32 points, Desmond Bane had 24 points, and Franz Wagner added 22, as they suffered their third consecutive loss to start a five-game road trip.

Andre Drummond of the Sixers recorded six rebounds, becoming the 32nd player in NBA history to reach at least 11,000 rebounds. Additionally, Anthony Black of the Magic made a three-quarter-court shot at the third-quarter buzzer to narrow the deficit to 101-94.

Up next, the Magic will play at Detroit on Wednesday, while the 76ers will face Washington on Tuesday.