Tyrese Maxey scores 38, Jaylen Brown returns to 76ers' lineup for 109-104 win over Hornets

Brown was listed as questionable on the Sixers’ injury report throughout the day, but was upgraded to available on the 5:15 p.m. update after participating in pregame shootaround.

No LeBron or Joel Embiid tonight. Nick Nurse said Jaylen Brown remains questionable but he’s out here shooting during his pregame window. pic.twitter.com/WOe2chUJSC

— Rod Boone (@rodboone) October 31, 2026

However, with Philadelphia playing the second of back-to-back games, LeBron James (sciatica management) and Joel Embiid (right foot, plantar fascia management) sat out Saturday’s game.

As could perhaps be expected for a team playing for the second consecutive night, the Sixers came out sluggish to begin the game. Tyrese Maxey was their only offense, scoring 15 points as the Hornets took a 37-27 lead. Brown had only 1 point in the first quarter.

SIZZLING START FOR TYRESE MAXEY 🔥

He’s got 9 points on 4/4 shooting for Philly! pic.twitter.com/GuMhL3vroY

— NBA (@NBA) October 31, 2026

To be fair, Charlotte was also playing the second of back-to-back games and perhaps used up most of their fuel in the first quarter. Philadelphia outscored the Hornets 30-17 in the second and went into halftime leading 57-54.

Maxey and Charlotte’s Grayson Allen put on a first-half duel, each scoring 19 points and shooting well from behind the arc. Allen swished 5 of 6 3-point shots, while Maxey went 3-for-5. Brown still struggled with his shot, going into the half with only 5 points.

GRAYSON ALLEN’S 5TH THREE OF THE FIRST HALF 🎯

That one was DEEP…. He’s got 19 on 7-8 shooting on NBA TV! pic.twitter.com/8WZ2xX0xv9

— NBA (@NBA) October 31, 2026

The Hornets reasserted themselves in the third quarter, taking an 8-point lead on a 14-4 run powered by 6 points from Naz Reid. Philadelphia cut its deficit to 79-77 on 3-pointers from Maxey and Anfernee Simons, but Charlotte scored the last 4 points of the quarter to take a 6-point lead into the final 12 minutes.

Tempers flared a big midway through the fourth quarter after Allen poked the ball away from Brown under the Charlotte basket. The two went to the floor battling for the loose ball. Brown and Allen exchanged shoves before teammates stepped in to separate them. Both players were assessed technical fouls.

JAYLEN BROWN AND GRAYSON ALLEN. LET’S GET NEGATIVE. pic.twitter.com/1YVHO8kzlp

— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) November 1, 2026

Allen hit a 3 with 3:41 remaining in the fourth to push the Hornets ahead 101-94. But Simons and Maxey combined to score the next eight points and the Sixers took a 102-101 lead. After Brandon Miller missed a short turnaround jumper, VJ Edgecombe hit a stepback 3 over Allen to put Philadelphia up by four.

Sion James missed on the Hornets’ next possession and Maxey got two free throws after drawing a foul on Allen to give the Sixers a 107-101 lead with 23.8 seconds left in regulation.

VJ EDGECOMBE IN THE CLUTCH. COLD. pic.twitter.com/wK8uZfEwn8

— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) November 1, 2026

Miller sank a 3 to cut Philadelphia’s lead to three points with 6.5 seconds remaining. But coming out of a timeout, Dean Wade found Brown cutting to the basket and drawing a foul. He swished two free throws to clinch the Sixers’ win.

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p style=”text-align:left”>Both teams are off until Monday after playing back-to-backs. Philadelphia hosts the Chicago Bulls (1-5), while the Hornets face the Detroit Pistons (5-1) at home.