The Philadelphia 76ers found themselves with a daunting task Monday night. Not only did they have to take on a young and hungry Grizzlies team, but they were also without the services of Joel Embiid. Despite being without the MVP candidate, the Sixers managed to keep things interesting.

After some late-game heroics from Ja Morant, the two teams needed overtime to decide a winner. Thanks to some big plays on both ends down the stretch, the Sixers walked out with a 122-119 victory.

Here are some observations from the matchup:

3. Andre Drummond steps up 

With Embiid out of the lineup, Andre Drummond found himself in the starting lineup Monday. The Sixers signed Drummond for occasions like this, and his performance against Memphis was a prime reason why. 

Drummond did everything he cane for the Sixers in the overtime thriller. He played 40 minutes and racked up 16 points, 23 rebounds, five assists, two steals and three blocks. 

Still to be considered in the prime of his career, Drummond is more than capable of being a starting center in the NBA. His ability to step up for big performances like this in Embiid's absence has made him a major asset for the Sixers this 2021-22. Even more so considering he signed for the veteran's minimum. 

2. Tobias Harris stays hot 

Over the last two weeks, Tobias Harris has turned a corner. His first half of the season was a bumpy road, but his recent stretch has shown a ton of promise. The 29-year-old is once again playing at the level we grew accustomed to seeing last year. 

From the opening tip, Harris asserted himself offensively. Matching up against a bigger forward in Jaren Jackson Jr. gave him a speed advantage, and he took full advantage of it. Harris shot just under 50 percent from the field en route to scoring 31 points. 

Quick decisions are something Doc Rivers has preached to Harris regularly. When he is either getting downhill or shooting without hesitation, it does wonders for his game. This resurgence from Harris has provided a huge lift for the Sixers as they gear up for the back end of the season. 

1. Tyrese Maxey shines in backcourt battle 

Easily the biggest story of the night was the battle between the starting point guards. Ja Morant and Tyrese Maxey both left it all on the floor in this one. After watching these two battle it out Monday, it's safe to say the future of the point guard position of the NBA is in good hands. 

For Memphis, Morant tallied 37 points, five rebounds and five assists. On the other side, Maxey went off for 33 points, three rebounds, eight assists and an impressive four blocks. 

When Embiid was sidelined due to health and safety protocols, Maxey stepped up in a huge way for the Sixers. He did so again against the Grizzlies. Not only with his scoring but passing as well. 

Having a happy balance between scorer and facilitator has been the biggest challenge for Maxey, but he seems to be finding his footing. Performances like this are a testament to the limitless potential of the second-year guard.