Tyrese Maxey scores 27 as Sixers rally past Raptors, 123-112

The Philadelphia 76ers took down the Toronto Raptors in a 123-112 win Thursday night at Xfinity Mobile Arena in South Philadelphia. Tyrese Maxey led the way for Philly with 27 points, while RJ Barrett totaled 31 points in Toronto's losing effort.

Here are the biggest takeaways from a fun night on South Broad Street.

Sixers overcome another sluggish offensive start

Without LeBron James, the Sixers' starting unit took some time to warm up in the midweek matchup against the Raptors. The home crowd suffered a scare as Joel Embiid dropped to the hardwood following a knee-on-knee collision in the opening quarter, but "The Process" returned to the floor after a quick trip to the locker room with the training staff. Meanwhile, the Sixers' offense struggled to find buckets as the Raptors opened up a 17-point first-quarter lead.

The Sixers' offense started to find its form once the bench hit the floor, including an 8-0 run to end the first quarter, capped by Anfernee Simons' second buzzer-beater of the young season. Philadelphia ultimately extended that run to 18-1, securing a 37-36 lead on a Jaylen Brown jumper in the paint with 8:20 left in the second quarter. The Sixers and Raptors each settled into a solid offensive rhythm, ending the half right back where they started, tied 60-60.

Philadelphia shot the ball much better in the second quarter than in the first. Maxey led the way with 14 first-half points, while Jaylen Brown (12 points) and VJ Edgecombe (10 points) also reached double digits through the opening 24 minutes.

Maxey helps Sixers pull away in second half

Maxey continued to bring offensive energy in the second half, but his contributions were largely negated by Barrett early in the third quarter. Neither team's offense took control of the contest until Philly ripped off a 10-2 run behind contributions from Embiid. He tormented the Raptors with clutch steals, heads-up assists and critical points from the free-throw line, allowing Philadelphia to surge to a 96-87 advantage through three quarters.

In the final quarter, Philadelphia's defense put the clamps on Toronto's shorthanded offense. Philly responded to any Raptors offensive momentum with a bucket of its own over the final 12 minutes, cruising to its 10th win of the 2026-27 campaign.

Final thoughts

• While it took some time to warm up, Philadelphia showcased its ability to put a division rival away when the Sixers had them on the ropes in the second half. Once Philadelphia took control Thursday night, its defense made sure the Raptors never got another chance. Without stars Scottie Barnes and Kawhi Leonard, Philly was able to focus on shutting down Barrett to keep Toronto's offense in check.
• Simons continues to be an impressive three-point shooter for this Sixers offense. The 27-year-old knocked down five three-pointers, shooting 83 percent from beyond the arc. With a star-studded offense garnering headlines, a long-range specialist could be a vital component for Philadelphia later this season.
• With the game in hand late in the fourth quarter, the Philly crowd chanted for reserve center Tacko Fall to enter the game in relief of Embiid. With 53.8 seconds left, head coach Nick Nurse delighted the crowd by checking in the 7-foot-6 center for his first appearance at Xfinity Mobile Arena. It was yet another fun moment in an entertaining win over Toronto.

Up next for Sixers

Philadelphia finishes its three-game homestand with a 1 p.m. matchup Sunday against the Indiana Pacers. Maxey led the Sixers with 27 points in a 114-109 road win in the first meeting between the teams this season on Oct. 28.

MORE: Latest Sixers news, analysis and more

Follow Philly Sports Network on Twitter for the latest in Philly sports. 

Follow Chris on Twitter @CBabosWrites for various Philly sports content, analysis, and coverage.