ID 30673779 | 76ers © Scott Anderson | Dreamstime.com

McCain’s Career-Best Performance Helps 76ers Break Losing Streak in Overtime Thriller

Jared McCain, the Philadelphia 76ers‘ rookie from Duke, put up a career-best 27 points, guiding his team to a 107-105 overtime victory against the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday. This win brought an end to the 76ers’ five-game losing skid. McCain, who was particularly impressive in the second half and overtime, shot 9 for 15 from the field, scoring 23 of his points post-intermission.

Yabusele and George Contribute to Philadelphia’s Much-Needed Win

Guerschon Yabusele was another standout for Philadelphia, posting a career-high 20 points, while Paul George chipped in with 15 points and nine assists. Unfortunately, George could not contribute during the overtime period, having already played 33 minutes in his fourth game since returning from a bone bruise.

Lamelo Ball of the Hornets put up a valiant fight, scoring 38 points, including a clutch fadeaway three-pointer with just eight seconds left in regulation time, to push the game into overtime. Supporting Ball were Brandon Miller and Grant Williams, who scored 22 and 17 points respectively.

Hornets’ Struggles and 76ers’ Resilience

Despite their best efforts, the Hornets struggled with their shooting, making only 14 of their 54 attempts from the 3-point arc. They also had several messy possessions, often forced to settle for long shots as the shot clock was winding down.

Meanwhile, the 76ers had to compensate for the absence of Joel Embiid, sidelined due to suspension and a knee injury, and Tyrese Maxey, out with a hamstring strain. The offensive load fell on the shoulders of McCain and Yabusele, both of whom are still finding their footing in the NBA.

Key Moments and Stat

The 76ers managed only two field goals in the overtime period but secured the win by shooting 6 of 8 from the foul line. Despite missing 14 of their 15 attempts from beyond the arc in the first half, Philadelphia still led by one point at the break. They caught fire in the third quarter, hitting five of their first seven 3-point attempts, to stretch their lead to 10 late in the quarter.

What’s Next

Following this game, both teams proceed to the NBA Cup round-robin on Tuesday. The Hornets will face off against Orlando, while the 76ers are set to host the Knicks in a replay of last year’s first-round playoff matchup.