Curry and Butler absent, Maxey scores 35 points; Achiuwa makes clutch plays as 76ers narrowly defeat Warriors by 1 point

On December 5th, in an NBA regular-season game, the Warriors played away against the 76ers with both Curry and Butler sidelined. The 76ers maintained a big lead through three quarters, only to be surpassed by the Warriors in the last quarter. In the final moments, Achiuwa’s steal followed by a put-back secured a 99-98 win for the 76ers. For the Warriors, five players scored in double digits: Spencer had 16 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists; Moody contributed 14 points; Hield added 14 points and 8 rebounds. On the 76ers’ side, Maxey led with 35 points, Embiid posted 12 points and 6 rebounds, and Achiuwa recorded 10 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals.

At the start of the first quarter, Embiid scored first with a mid-range shot, followed by Achiuwa hitting a three-pointer from outside. Horford responded with a long-range shot, and Richard tied the score with a steal and fast break. After that, the Warriors struggled to score, allowing the 76ers to go on a 22-0 run. The Warriors managed only 5 points in the first 10 minutes. Near the quarter’s end, Hield scored on a put-back to stop the bleeding, and Kuminga finally hit a three-pointer. The first quarter ended with the Warriors trailing 10-30. In the second quarter, both teams exchanged three-pointers early, but the 76ers’ firepower was clearly superior. After missing all five attempts in the first quarter, Bojemski stopped shooting, and the Warriors had no set offensive leader, taking shots whenever they had the chance. This approach worked better than in the first quarter. Led by Maxey, the 76ers kept up their scoring, and the Warriors lost the second quarter by only 2 points. At halftime, the 76ers led 56-34 over the Warriors.

In the second half, Bojemski finally got going, and the Warriors launched a comeback, cutting the deficit to under 20 points. Maxey hit two consecutive three-pointers, and Embiid scored again with a mid-range jumper, quickly stopping the Warriors’ momentum. Bojemski kept playing aggressively, and Kuminga’s powerful dunk forced a 76ers timeout. After the break, the Warriors spread the floor and continued closing the gap, while the 76ers lost their rhythm. With Melton’s bank shot, the Warriors ended the third quarter trailing 66-80. In the final quarter, Edwards and Walker scored consecutive baskets attacking the rim, but intermittent scoring droughts reappeared. The Warriors responded with a 10-0 run, narrowing the gap to 8 points. With just over 7 minutes remaining, the game’s tension rose sharply. After a timeout, the Warriors hit two more three-pointers, and with 2.5 minutes left, they took the lead. In the last 14 seconds, leading by one point and holding the ball, the Warriors were robbed by Achiuwa, giving the 76ers a chance for a game-winning play. Achiuwa’s put-back gave the 76ers the lead again, leaving the Warriors only 1 second on the clock. Ultimately, the 76ers won narrowly, 99-98, over the Warriors.

Warriors lineup: Richard, Green, Horford, Moody, Bojemski

76ers lineup: Grimes, Barlow, Embiid, Achiuwa, Maxey