Michael Porter Jr. scored 25 of his 28 points in the first half as the visiting Brooklyn Nets topped the Philadelphia 76ers 114-106 on Tuesday.
Egor Demin added 20 points for Brooklyn, which improved to 6-3 in its last nine games. Nic Claxton chipped in with 16 points and 10 rebounds for the visitors.
Joel Embiid led Philadelphia with 27 points, while Paul George contributed 19 points. Tyrese Maxey, who came into the night averaging 31.7 points, was limited to 13 points on 3-of-14 shooting as the Sixers lost for just the third time in their last nine games.
The Nets led 70-65 about 4 1/2 minutes into the second half when Demin’s 3-pointer ignited a 9-2 run. Demin added a four-point play shortly thereafter and then found Porter for a fadeaway to make it 79-67.
Late in the third quarter, Day’Ron Sharpe, Ziaire Williams and Tyrese Martin all knocked down 3-pointers to increase Brooklyn’s advantage to 89-72.
Philadelphia closed to within 89-77 after three quarters, but Martin’s 3-pointer and Nolan Traore’s three-point play promptly restored an 18-point cushion.
The hosts kept fighting, getting their deficit to nine several times in the final five minutes. However, the Nets had an answer each time, with Demin providing the nails in the coffin with two 3-pointers in succession.
Porter scored 14 points in the first quarter, helping the Nets into a 27-27 tie after one period. He was 5-of-6 from the field, while his teammates were 4-of-16 in the session.
Embiid scored 10 first-quarter points to pace Philadelphia.
The Sixers surged ahead 38-31 early in the second quarter as George and Andre Drummond each scored four points in the first two minutes of the period. However, the Nets promptly caught up at 39-39.
Soon thereafter, it was Brooklyn’s turn to go ahead by seven as Porter converted a four-point play to put the visitors up 49-42. Philadelphia closed within four late in the quarter before Porter’s layup sent Brooklyn into the locker room with a 63-57 advantage.
