76ers rally in fourth, beat Washington 139-134 in overtime to remain undefeated

WASHINGTON (AP) — Tyrese Maxey scored 39 points with 10 assists, and the Philadelphia 76ers stormed back with Joel Embiid on the bench, beating the Washington Wizards 139-134 in overtime on Tuesday night to remain unbeaten.

Embiid scored 25 points in a season-high 23:02, but with the 76ers managing his minutes, it was Adem Bona who turned the game around late. He blocked four shots in the fourth quarter and another in OT as Philadelphia rallied from a 16-point deficit after three to improve to 4-0.

Alex Sarr scored 31 points for the Wizards, who had 110 points in the first three quarters then only 16 in the fourth. When Khris Middleton missed from the left elbow in the final seconds for Washington, the game went to overtime tied at 126.

The Wizards then scored the first five points of overtime before conceding a 9-0 run, including a follow dunk by Bona with 27.6 seconds left that gave the 76ers the lead. A 3-pointer by Kyshawn George made it 135-134 with 7 seconds remaining, but after Maxey made two free throws, Middleton forced a pass into heavy traffic that was intercepted.

Washington had eight players in double figures by the end of the third quarter before collapsing.

The Wizards led 72-68 at halftime and went on a quick 14-3 run at the start of the third quarter. They led by as many as 19.

Embiid did most of his damage in the first half, when he had 18 points. Trendon Watford made his season debut for Philadelphia after missing the first three games with hamstring problems. He scored two points in 18:20.

76ers: Host Boston on Friday night.

Wizards: At Oklahoma City on Thursday night.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

Philadelphia 76ers center Adem Bona warms up before an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

Washington Wizards center Alex Sarr shoots a basket over Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21)during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

Washington Wizards guard CJ McCollum, left, rises past Philadelphia 76ers center Adem Bona for a basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

Philadelphia 76ers guard Kelly Oubre Jr., left, watches Washington Wizards center Alex Sarr pass off during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

Washington Wizards forward Marvin Bagley III (35) dunks against Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. forces in the Caribbean Sea have seized another sanctioned oil tanker the Trump administration says has ties to Venezuela, part of a broader U.S. effort to take control of the South American country’s oil.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem wrote Thursday on social media, “Motor Tanker Veronica had previously passed through Venezuelan waters, and was operating in defiance of President Trump’s established quarantine of sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean.”

A social media post from U.S. Southern Command on the capture said that Marines and sailors launched from the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford to make the capture while Noem’s post noted that, like in previous raids, a U.S. Coast Guard tactical team conducted the boarding and seizure.

Noem posted a brief video that appeared to show part of the ship’s capture. The black-and-white footage showed helicopters hovering over the deck of a merchant vessel while armed troops dropped down on the deck by rope.

The Veronica is the sixth tanker that has been seized by U.S. forces as part of the effort by President Donald Trump’s administration to control the production, refining and global distribution of Venezuela’s oil products, and the fourth since the U.S. ouster of Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro in a surprise nighttime raid almost two weeks ago.

Noem, in her social media post, said that the raid was carried out with “close coordination with our colleagues” in the military as well as the State and Justice departments.

“Our heroic Coast Guard men and women once again ensured a flawlessly executed operation, in accordance with international law,” Noem added.

As with prior posts, Noem and the military framed the seizure as part of an effort to enforce the law. Noem argued that the multiple captures show that “there is no outrunning or escaping American justice.”

However, other officials in Trump's Republican administration have made clear they see it as a way to generate cash as they seek to rebuild Venezuela’s battered oil industry and restore its economy.

Last week, Trump met with executives from oil companies to discuss his goal of investing $100 billion in Venezuela to repair and upgrade its oil production and distribution. His administration has said it expects to sell at least 30 million to 50 million barrels of sanctioned Venezuelan oil.

This story has been corrected to show the Veronica is the fourth, not the third, tanker seized by U.S. forces since Maduro's capture.

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks during a press conference, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks at a news conference at Harry Reid International Airport, Nov. 22, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ronda Churchill, File)