Paul George led a late surge, but the Joel Embiid-less Sixers did not play nearly well enough to beat the Pelicans on Friday night. They're 15-21.

Tyrese Maxey scored 30 points and Paul George scored 23 of his 25 points in the 2nd half on Friday night but the Sixers struggled mightily on defense in a disappointing loss to the Pelicans.Sixers doo

Think back to the 76ers’ contest against the Washington Wizards on Wednesday night. The product inside the Wells Fargo Center was below the NBA standard as several key players were sidelined with injuries on both squads.

Tyrese Maxey had 30 points, 12 assists, and six rebounds for Philadelphia. Paul George had 25 points and 11 rebounds with five assists, Kelly Oubre Jr. added 21 points and seven rebounds, and Ricky Council IV added 13. Guerschon Yabusele added six and seven rebounds.

None of that seemed to bother the Pelicans, who found a way to get just their third road victory of the season. The 76ers (15-21) were without Joel Embiid (knee), but the Pelicans

CJ McCollum scored 38 points as the short-handed New Orleans Pelicans opened a three-game road trip with a 123-115 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday.