Tyrese Maxey has another strong game in Sixers’ preseason win over Cleveland Cavaliers

James Harden delivered a long bounce pass to the streaking Tyrese Maxey, who converted through contact to the delight of the home crowd getting its first glimpse of the 2022-23 version of the 76ers.

The Sixers’ 113-112 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers Wednesday night at the Wells Fargo Center marked the preseason debuts for stars Joel Embiid and James Harden and prized free-agent acquisition P.J. Tucker. But Maxey stole the show again, dropping 21 points on 9-of-11 shooting in 15 first-half minutes.

“I feel confident because of the work that I put in,” Maxey said. “So I’m confident in myself. And then I’m confident in my teammates, and they’re confident in me.”

It would be unwise to draw sweeping conclusions from preseason games. But Maxey looks poised to build on his breakout 2021-22 season, mixing explosive drives with a perfect 3-for-3 from three-point distance. Wednesday’s flurry from Maxey followed his 20-point effort on 6-of-8 from the floor in the Sixers’ preseason opener at Brooklyn Monday night.

» READ MORE: What if the Sixers’ Tyrese Maxey is actually a superstar? It’s worth asking after what we saw against the Nets.

“If he would have finished two fastbreaks, he would have been 11-for-11 is what I told him,” said Sixers assistant coach Dave Joerger, who filled in for an ill head coach Doc Rivers. “We all know what a joy he is to be around, so when he has success, it’s just such a cool feeling because he’s so humble and so giving.

“But efficient is the word. His ability to make shots has so much improved and he’s put in so much work.”

In a down-to-the-wire game, Sixers reserve big man Montrezl Harrell’s driving finish with 26.7 seconds to play proved to be the game-winner.

“They didn’t really do a good switch,” Harrell said of that game-winning possession. “I turned the corner and I saw daylight and just felt like I had to make a move to get a good shot up. …

“There’s not a move that I’m not accustomed to. It’s something I do. I played guard all summer long, man. You can ask anybody [from the] Drew League, anywhere I go, that’s what I do.”

Cleveland’s new star backcourt duo of Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell, meanwhile, combined for 28 points on 10-of-16 shooting and nine assists in their first-half work.

The Sixers have two more preseason games, Monday at Cleveland and Oct. 12 against the Charlotte Hornets, before an Oct. 18 nationally televised opener at the Boston Celtics.

Embiid, Harden, and Tucker looked rusty on the offensive end in their first preseason action. The three players began the game a combined 0-for-6 from the floor before gaining some rhythm in the second quarter.

Harris and Maxey, meanwhile, anchored the Sixers’ offense early by scoring all of their first 16 points. Harris his all four of his shots in seven first-quarter minutes.

Embiid (12 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists) rebounded from a 3-for-8 first quarter to hit three of his five attempts in the second frame, including two smooth pull-up jumpers on back-to-back possessions.

Harden, meanwhile, went 3-of-9 from the floor but did dish out five assists. And he did rip off a highlight-worthy play, when his crossover sent the Cavaliers’ Dean Wade to the deck before finishing at the rim.

“James is going to get schemed,” Joerger said. “Joel is going to get schemed — Where are [the defenders] going? To double him at the elbow? Are they going to double him in the post? Where are they coming from? Those kinds of things — so we got a little bit of a look on that. …. But I love the way that we’re competing and I love our spirit.”

Tucker, who went 0-for-1 from the floor but totaled four rebounds in 17 minutes, also guarded Mitchell, illustrating the variety of defensive assignments he will draw this season. Joerger and teammates also praised Tucker’s presence and voice.

Embiid, Harden, and Tucker did not speak to the media following the game.

With the Sixers’ full roster available, the game presented an early look at their potential rotation with the depth added during the offseason.

Guard De’Anthony Melton (11 points, four rebounds, three assists) and forward Georges Niang (six points, two assists) were the first players off the bench (replacing Harden and Harris), allowing Melton and Maxey to briefly share the backcourt. Then wing Danuel House Jr. (three points, four rebounds), who missed Monday’s matchup against the Nets with neck stiffness, and guard Shake Milton (12 points, four rebounds, four assists) replaced Tucker and Maxey.

Paul Reed (five points, six rebounds) was again the backup center over Harrell, the former NBA Sixth Man of the Year who was a late addition to the Sixers’ free-agent class. Reed got a small second-quarter stint with the starters.

The Sixers began the second quarter with Harden, Melton, House, Niang and Reed, before Harris and Tucker subbed back in less than two minutes later to initiate the return of the remaining starters.

Harrell, Matisse Thybulle (who started Monday’s game in Brooklyn), and Furkan Korkmaz entered the game for the first time in the third quarter. Isaiah Joe, Charles Bassey, and Trevelin Queen did not play.

When asked how close the Sixers are to figuring out those initial groupings, Joerger said, “I don’t want to say we’re a long way, but we are a work in progress on that also.”

“Then the minute you think you’ve got it figured out, something happens and it trips you up for two weeks and then it’s different,” Joerger said. “You don’t hope for injuries. We don’t want any of that. But those things kind of happen.”

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With Rivers unable to coach Wednesday, Joerger was back in that spot after previously leading the Memphis Grizzlies (2013-16) and Sacramento Kings (2016-19).

Minutes before tipoff, Joerger chatted with Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff, whom Joerger said he has known for more than two decades. Joerger cracked a smile when introduced as the acting head coach. And when he sat down to examine the box score at the beginning of his postgame news conference, he drew attention to the glasses he brought along.

“Last time I was a head coach in the NBA, I didn’t have to use these,” Joerger said.

Before the game, Joerger acknowledged the moment held some sentimentality, after he stepped away from the Sixers for a portion of last season to undergo head and neck cancer treatment.