As they draw in on the East's top spot, the 76ers fend off Ja Morant and the Grizzlies in OT

By: Jerry Filmore

Joel Embiid was not going to suit up for the 76ers on Monday night for the first time since December 15. What's more, guess what? Even against the West's third-seeded Grizzlies, it didn't matter. After the final buzzer, the Philadelphia team rode their momentum, having won 14 of their past 17 games, and their superstar big man was pumped.

Tyrese Maxey, Tobias Harris, and Embiid's backup Andre Drummond led the way for them. Maxey, a 21-year-old guard who has had a fantastic second season filling in for Ben Simmons, stepped up his game when the opposition point guard came to town.

Maxey equaled his season high in points and grabbed control late by scoring six of the team's 11 points in overtime against Western Conference All-Star starter Ja Morant, who ended with 37 points for his ninth straight 30-point game.