The Los Angeles Lakers, who are missing superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis, defeated the NBA-leading Boston Celtics on Thursday, with Tyrese Maxey scoring 51 points to lead Philadelphia over Utah.
Austin Reaves led the Lakers to a season-high 32 points in their 114-105 triumph, noting afterward that he and the rest of the Lakers had taken James' direct demand after Tuesday's loss to Atlanta to "just go out and do your job."
"It's a great message," he told TNT. "And coming from the greatest player ever, in my opinion, that's what we should do."
In other news, 76ers guard Maxey and Knicks forward Jalen Brunson put on impressive performances to celebrate their first career All-Star selections.
Fill in somMaxey scored a career-high 51 points to lead the Sixers to a hard-fought 127-124 victory over the Jazz in Utah, capping up a day in which the 76ers waited to learn how long they would be without injured star Joel Embiid.e text
Brunson scored 40 points as the Knicks won their eighth straight game, 109-105, over the Indiana Pacers.
Maxey, who had missed three games due to an ankle ailment, returned to assist the 76ers overcome the absence of reigning NBA MVP Joel Embiid.
The 76ers announced Thursday that Embiid had been diagnosed with a lateral meniscus tear and would be sidelined at least until the weekend as physicians devised a treatment plan.
Fact Check: Is Randy Travis dead? Stagehand tragic accident explored