Sixers Stage Late Comeback to Defeat Hornets 109-104

The Philadelphia 76ers secured a hard-fought 109-104 victory against the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday night at the Spectrum Center, overcoming a late deficit behind a stellar performance from Tyrese Maxey. Maxey poured in a season-high 38 points, leading a crucial 13-0 run down the stretch that erased Charlotte's advantage and sealed the road win.

Philadelphia entered the contest playing without stars Joel Embiid and LeBron James, who were held out for load management following a victory over the New York Knicks the previous night. Despite missing their two marquee players, the 76ers relied on depth and a strong second-quarter performance, outscoring the Hornets 30-17 in the period to take a 57-54 lead at halftime.

The Hornets fought back to reclaim the lead, establishing an 83-77 advantage heading into the fourth quarter. Charlotte built its cushion up to seven points with under four minutes remaining, putting themselves in position to close out the game against the conference leaders. However, the team hit a severe scoring drought in the final minutes, missing shots and committing turnovers that allowed Philadelphia back into the game.

A notable flashpoint occurred midway through the fourth quarter when a scramble for a loose ball led to a physical tangle between Charlotte's Grayson Allen and Philadelphia's Jaylen Brown. Teammates rushed in to break up the scuffle, and after a video review, both players were assessed double technical fouls.

Allen led the charge for the Hornets off the bench, putting up a season-high 27 points while shooting effectively from beyond the arc in the first half. Brandon Miller added 24 points, five rebounds, and five assists for Charlotte, while Moussa Diabate contributed 10 points and strong defensive energy on the boards.

For the 76ers, Jaylen Brown finished with 16 points after returning from a one-game absence due to patellar tendinopathy. Anfernee Simons chipped in 19 points off the bench, and Jabari Walker added 12 points to support Maxey's offensive onslaught.

The win improves Philadelphia's record and highlights their resilience on the road, while the Hornets are left to regroup after letting a late lead slip away during a demanding stretch of games.