PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Tyrese Maxey scored 43 points, including eight straight during a crucial fourth-quarter stretch, and rookie VJ Edgecombe added 26 points as the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Orlando Magic 136-124 without Joel Embiid to improve to 3-0.

Embiid, the 2023 MVP and two-time scoring champ, was sidelined to rest his surgically repaired left knee. After playing in just 19 games last season, Embiid played the first two with a restriction of 20 minutes.

Philadelphia did just fine without its star center. Maxey followed a 3-pointer with a driving basket with just over a minute left that gave the 76ers a comfortable 12-point advantage. He is averaging 37.0 points per game. Edgecombe, the No. 3 pick in the NBA draft, continues to impress and has 75 points through three games. Kelly O

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