76ers News: Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey Join Elite Scoring Company

Sixers stars one of three duos with at least eight 30-point games apiece

On Wednesday night, the Philadelphia 76ers found themselves matched up against the league's top defense in the Minnesota Timberwolves. They managed to disrupt the Sixers' stars at first but still proved to be no match by the final buzzer. 

In the end, the Sixers ended up walking away with a 127-113 victory. This was in large part due to the play of Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. The pair ended up finishing with 86 of the team's 127 points. The reigning MVP led the way with 51 points, with the rising star going for 35. 

Aside from taking down the top team in the Western Conference, the Sixers' stars put themselves in some elite company. With this performance, Embiid and Maxey are now one of three duos with at least 30-point games each this season. The others? LeBron James and Anthony Davis of the LA Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks stars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard. 

.@TyreseMaxey has his 8th 30-point game this season and @JoelEmbiid has his league-lead-tying 19th 30-point performance.

Maxey and Embiid are one of three pairs of teammates each with eight-plus 30-point games this season (Antetokounmpo/Lillard and Davis/James).

h/t @Stathead

— Sixers Stats (@SixersStats) December 21, 2023

Following this victory, the Sixers sit just one-and-a-half games out of the No. 1 seed. Their 19-8 start would not have been possible if not for the stellar play of Embiid and Maxey. Through the first quarter of the season, they have proven to be one of the NBA's top duos. 

Embiid has led the charge, putting up MVP-level numbers, but the emergence of Maxey is a major storyline. With James Harden gone, the young guard has assumed the mantle as Embiid's new running mate. He has taken this opportunity in stride and continues to put up big-time numbers. 

So far this season, Maxey is averaging 25.8 PPG, close to six points higher than his average last year. As these two continue to raise their game to new levels, they are putting themselves in the conversation for best offensive duo in the NBA.