PHI 109, ORL 97: Andre Drummond and Tyrese Maxey Combine for 103 ESPN FP
Destiny Williams
Math Teacher & Basketball Coach ยท Atlanta Hawks fan
76ers Hold Off Magic Behind Maxey and Drummond's Unexpected Two-Man Show
The 76ers got the job done 109-97, but the fantasy script flipped harder than a contested layup. Without Joel Embiid out there punishing everyone, Philly's depth had to carry the load, and honestly, the bench showed up when it mattered.
Here's the top performers table for reference:
| Player | ESPN FP | Yahoo FP | Tonight | Season Avg | +/- Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andre Drummond | 56.0 | 47.0 | 14/10/2 | 6.4/8.4/1.3 | +7.6 |
| Tyrese Maxey | 47.0 | 46.4 | 31/2/6 | 28.3/4.1/6.6 | +2.7 |
| Desmond Bane | 44.0 | 40.1 | 34/3/3 | 20.1/4.1/4.1 | +13.9 |
| Paul George | 35.0 | 35.5 | 16/5/5 | 17.3/5.3/3.6 | -1.3 |
| VJ Edgecombe | 26.0 | 32.7 | 19/11/1 | 16.0/5.6/4.2 | +3.0 |
| Wendell Carter Jr. | 24.0 | 28.7 | 5/11/1 | 11.8/7.4/2.0 | -6.8 |
| Paolo Banchero | 13.0 | 27.0 | 18/5/4 | 22.2/8.4/5.2 | -4.2 |
| Kelly Oubre Jr. | 29.0 | 25.1 | 19/3/1 | 14.1/5.0/1.6 | +4.9 |
| Anthony Black | 21.0 | 23.7 | 13/6/3 | 15.0/3.8/3.7 | -2.0 |
| Jalen Suggs | 18.0 | 22.2 | 4/6/4 | 13.8/3.9/5.5 | -9.8 |
Andre Drummond Just Became Fantasy Relevant
Look, Andre Drummond averaging 6.4 points and 8.4 rebounds is not a guy you're thinking about in your waiver wire prayers. Tonight? He dropped 14/10/2 with 5-8 shooting and hit two threes (+7.6 vs his season average on points alone) to post 47 Yahoo points. That's not a fluke performance, that's a role expansion nobody saw coming.
With Embiid sidelined, Drummond got 31 minutes and got to operate more freely in pick and roll situations. He's normally a role guy, but he showed he can still move the ball and finish when given the green light. The blocks and steals (2 and 3) are always there with him.
Real talk though, this feels like a one-game spike unless Embiid stays out longer. Drummond was dropped in a lot of leagues because his season average is underwhelming. If you've got a streaming spot and Embiid is dealing with something, grab him for the next game. But don't panic-add him for the rest of the season thinking he's suddenly a 20-25 minute guy.
Desmond Bane Went Absolutely Off for Orlando
Desmond Bane with 34 points on 10-16 shooting, 4 threes, and 10-11 from the line is a legitimate superstar performance. +13.9 on his season PPG average is the kind of explosion that wins you a fantasy week by itself. That's All-Star caliber scoring in one night.
The concerning part for Magic owners? He still only has 40.1 Yahoo points because he grabbed just 3 boards and 3 assists. He's a volume scorer, not a facilitator, so ceiling games like this are basically his scoring ceiling in a vacuum. Don't expect 34 points every night, but he's locked in and deserves to be owned everywhere.
Paolo Banchero Gets Lost in His Own Game
Paolo Banchero going 7-22 from the field is rough. 18 points on that efficiency doesn't cut it, even with the 5 rebounds and 4 assists padding the line. He finished with 27 Yahoo points, which is solid but not what you want from a lead option. He's still a must-own because of his usage rate and ceiling, but this is the kind of game that makes you nervous about whether he's fully healthy or just having an off night.
The fact that Bane went off and Paolo didn't suggests this wasn't a matchup thing, just Banchero not finding his rhythm. Happens. But if this becomes a pattern where role players outperform him, that's worth watching.
The 76ers Role Player Impact
Tyrese Maxey did his job (31 points, 42 minutes) without going full superhuman, which was fine. He was +2.7 on his season average, meaning he played like himself instead of like prime Jamal Murray. That's stable fantasy production, exactly what you need in a win.
Kelly Oubre Jr. with 19 points and five threes off 40 minutes was the real story for Philly's bench depth. +4.9 on his average means he elevated his game in Embiid's absence. VJ Edgecombe (19/11 on 41 minutes) got more run and took advantage, though 11 rebounds as a guard is interesting, not sustainable.
Paul George stayed in his lane. Solid game, nothing explosive, 35.5 Yahoo points that feel exactly right for him. He's the consistency play, not the boom guy.
The Wrap
76ers showed they can function without their MVP, which is good for their title hopes but bad for your Embiid anxiety. If he's dealing with something serious, you're looking at a league-wide reset for Philly's roster value. Maxey becomes even more central, and guys like Oubre and Edgecombe get real minutes.
Orlando got outplayed despite Bane going nuclear. That's the real warning sign. If they can't generate consistent offense without one guy completely going off, their postseason ceiling is limited.
For your waiver moves, Bane is already owned everywhere at 98.3%, so don't waste a claim. Drummond at 2.7% is worth a look if you've got a deep bench and Embiid reports are unclear. Edgecombe getting 41 minutes is worth monitoring if he stays in the rotation.