Observations after Sixers' stars all produce in win over Wizards  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers’ stars all scored efficiently and led the way Wednesday night in the team’s 131-110 win over the Wizards at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

Joel Embiid had 28 points on 10-for-14 shooting and seven rebounds. Tyrese Maxey posted 22 points (9 for 15 from the floor) and eight assists. Paul George scored 23 points and shot 7 for 10.

The Sixers were at full strength for the first time this season. The Wizards were very undermanned amid reports of their trade pursuit of Trae Young.

Rookie Tre Johnson scored a team-high 20 points for the 10-26 Wizards.

The 20-15 Sixers will visit the Magic on Friday night. Here are observations on their victory Wednesday:

The Sixers had a much sharper start than in their overtime loss Monday to the shorthanded Nuggets. 

Embiid hit a mid-range jumper over Alex Sarr on the game’s opening play. Maxey drained a pull-up three-pointer, Embiid threw down a dunk set up by a flex cut and George dish, and the Wizards called timeout in an early 7-0 hole. Embiid asked the home crowd to amp up the volume. 

Maxey tried seven long-range jumpers in the first quarter and knocked down four. He and Embiid combined for 24 points in the first period on 9-for-13 shooting, five assists and zero turnovers. The Sixers had no turnovers as a team until 2.4 seconds left in the first.

The bar was low, but the Sixers needed a more focused, energetic start against another injury-depleted opponent. They checked that box.

Kelly Oubre Jr. checked in at the 4:27 mark of the first quarter and the fans gave him a loud, warm welcome back.

He played Wednesday for the first time since suffering a left knee LCL sprain on Nov. 14. Oubre wore a brace on his left knee and a sleeve covered his entire left leg. 

The 30-year-old wing will certainly require some time to regain rhythm and conditioning. Oubre made a nice cut along the baseline near the end of the first quarter, but he couldn’t catch Quentin Grimes’ low pass. Early in the second quarter, Oubre air balled a contested mid-range jumper and came up short on a catch-and-shoot corner three attempt.

The Sixers didn’t score for the first 3:40 of the second quarter and the Wizards stormed in front with a 13-0 run. Washington’s bench had a 17-2 scoring advantage over the Sixers’ second unit at halftime.

Trendon Watford made his return from a left adductor strain in quasi-garbage time, subbing in with 4:45 to go in the fourth quarter and the Sixers leading by 18 points. He tallied three assists.

Oubre got a short turnaround jumper to drop in the fourth quarter. He logged 20 minutes and had two points on 1-for-4 shooting, three rebounds, two steals and an assist.

George’s jumpers were sweet in the second quarter off both the catch and the dribble. He reached his first 20-point game since Dec. 14 when he made a short jump shot with 8:13 to go in the third quarter.

Propelled by their star trio, the Sixers picked up steam late in the second quarter. Maxey’s and-one layup put the team up 58-51.

The Sixers never relinquished their lead and turned the contest into a blowout by early in the fourth quarter. VJ Edgecombe’s baseline jumper stretched the Sixers’ advantage to 20 points. The rookie again had a stat sheet-stuffing night, recording 13 points, seven assists, six rebounds and five steals.

By the end of the evening, everyone had played for the Sixers besides veterans Eric Gordon and Kyle Lowry.

While they won’t often go that deep down their bench, the final minutes were a reminder that the team currently has many options and no one sidelined.