Tyrese Maxey had watched Philadelphia’s offense stall against Boston two nights earlier. On Thursday, with the 76ers trying to answer that loss and Toronto trying to find its footing at 5-6, Maxey became the spark for a 123-112 Philadelphia win. His 27 points and eight assists helped the Sixers roar back from a 17-point first-quarter hole and improve to 10-3.

Toronto came out flying. Immanuel Quickley pushed the pace, making a three-pointer and a short runner, while RJ Barrett hit from deep and attacked the rim. The Raptors also turned Philadelphia mistakes into points. Collin Murray-Boyles stole a pass for a layup, and a string of steals helped Toronto surge ahead 19-9. Barrett then hit a three, and center Jakob Poeltl scored inside before forward Jamison Battle buried a three for a 32-16 lead.

Philadelphia needed a response before the game sped away. Maxey drove for a layup, then guard Anfernee Simons drilled a three at the first-quarter horn to cut the gap to 33-24. That shot mattered because it gave the Sixers something to chase instead of a mountain to climb.

The chase became a full comeback in the second quarter. Simons opened with another deep shot, Joel Embiid blocked Quickley near the basket, and VJ Edgecombe stole two passes. Edgecombe finished one theft with a running dunk to put Philadelphia ahead 35-34, its first lead since the opening minutes. Jaylen Brown added smooth midrange jumpers, while guard Caldwell-Pope made two threes. Toronto kept answering behind Quickley and Barrett, and Barrett’s late three sent the teams into halftime tied, 60-60.

Maxey took control after the break. He floated in a shot, stole the ball from Murray-Boyles, and made two free throws for a 72-69 lead. Embiid followed with a dunk and later hit a 20-foot jumper as Philadelphia began to use its size and passing more cleanly. When Toronto tied the score at 85, Maxey answered at the rim. He then fed Brown for a layup and Simons for a three, and the Sixers carried a 96-87 lead into the fourth.

Toronto never stopped pushing. Barrett finished with 31 points and 14 rebounds, while Quickley scored 26 points. But Philadelphia had too many answers. Forward Jabari Walker opened the final quarter with a three, Simons hit another from long range, and Maxey found Embiid for jumpers that kept the Raptors at arm’s length. Simons made five of six three-point attempts for 17 points, turning Philadelphia’s bench attack into a major difference.

The Sixers finished with 31 assists, showing how the ball movement returned after the Boston defeat. Toronto fell to 5-7 despite Barrett’s huge night and next faces the Knicks. Philadelphia heads to Indiana with proof that Maxey’s speed, plus timely help from every part of the lineup, can turn an early stumble into a powerful season-building win.

Tyrese Maxey Sparks 76ers’ 123-112 Rally Past Toronto