Player grades: Paul George leads Sixers past Wizards on the road
· Yahoo Sports
WASHINGTON -- The Philadelphia 76ers paid a visit to the Washington Wizards on Wednesday looking to end their 3-game road trip on a high note. The Sixers entered Capital One Arena needing to win following a loss in Miami on Monday and they would have to do it with Joel Embiid sidelined due to an illness.
After some struggles in the second quarter, the Sixers buckled down after halftime and eventually cruised to a 153-131 win over the lowly Wizards. The win earned Philadelphia a season sweep over the Wizards and allowed it to get back on track in the airtight playoff race in the Eastern Conference.
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Paul George made it look easy as he had 39 points, six assists, and five rebounds for Philadelphia while Tyrese Maxey had 28 points and eight assists. VJ Edgecombe had 23 points and 10 assists while Quentin Grimes and Kelly Oubre Jr. added 12 points each off the bench.
Here are the player grades following the win:
Tyrese Maxey: A
When Maxey put his head down and attacked, there was nobody on the Wizards who could stay in front of him. He was too quick, too shifty, and too strong for anybody on Washington’s perimeter defense and the 2-time All-Star guard feasted on attacks to the basket and paint touches. When the Wizards took a double-digit lead with Maxey on the bench, the star guard re-entered the game and restored order as he threw the offense on his back a bit. He and George teamed up to really put Washington away in the third quarter and he really was able to have so much success against this young, rebuilding team.
VJ Edgecombe: A
It was another slow start for Edgecombe as the Sixers focused on the duo of Maxey and George in the early going. The rookie was able to make an impact on the game with his defensive work and make plays with his passing until he found a bit of a groove on the offensive end in the second quarter. He then was a part of the big third quarter as he just ran the floor and found easy opportunities in transition. When he is able to get a head of steam, not a lot of people can stop him.
Paul George: A-plus
The 9-time All-Star got going early as he went right at Wizards rookie Tre Johnson. George used his size and strength to get to his spots on the offensive end and he found himself a rhythm to get the scoreboard moving for Philadelphia. He looked like the old Paul George as he was shaking defenders off the dribble, scoring in isolation, knocking down snatchback 3-pointers, and was able to get to the basket and finish. Sure, one can say that it was just the Wizards, but George was phenomenal all night long and he seemed to make a statement that yes, he can, in fact, still do this at a high level. He scored at an efficient rate and was able to get others involved as well as attack the glass. He was terrific.
Dominick Barlow: B
Not looking for his own offense, Barlow was able to make an impact in areas that don’t show up in the box score. His screen-setting in this one was excellent and he made an impact on the defensive end by moving his feet and being in the right spots.
Adem Bona: A-minus
It was an up-and-down night for Bona. He had some good moments on the offensive end and had an impressive block, but he had some struggles with Wizards big man Tristan Vukcevic who is just a bigger than him. He used his size to be able to get some buckets against Bona. Things changed in the third quarter as Bona used his speed and athleticism to be able to get going on the offensive end and give the Sixers a presence in the paint.
Quentin Grimes: B-plus
The 5-year guard gave the Sixers a big boost off the bench. He knocked down a corner triple as he brought an offensive presence with his ability to put the ball on the floor and explode to the basket for a few easy ones.
Andre Drummond: B-plus
The initial stint for Drummond was a mixed bag. He was able to bring a rebounding presence and be big in the paint, and he also made some great passes, but he had some defensive struggles and missed a bunny at the rim. He was a big factor in the third quarter as he knocked down two corner 3s and really helped Philadelphia put away this young Wizards team.
Kelly Oubre Jr.: B-minus
The former Wizard had some tough moments in his initial stint as he had some wild shots that led to misses, but he was able to throw in some tough buckets and give the Sixers a presence on the defensive end. It was an overall solid night as he helped the Sixers get back in the win column for the bench unit.
Justin Edwards: B
Edwards hopped off the bench and immediately drilled a 3-pointer. He then put the ball on the floor and was able to get into the paint and make things happen.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Player grades: Paul George leads Sixers past Wizards on the road