Maxey, Embiid lead the 76ers to 123-112 win over the Raptors without James

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Tyrese Maxey scored 27 points, Joel Embiid had 20 and the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Toronto Raptors 123-112 on Thursday night while playing without LeBron James.

James (back) was ruled out earlier Thursday, missing his third game of the season.

Jaylen Brown added 18 points for Philadelphia, which improved to 10-3. The 76ers rebounded from Tuesday’s 123-101 loss to Jayson Tatum and the Celtics in Brown's first game against his former team.

RJ Barrett scored 31 points and Immanuel Quickley added 25 for the short-handed Raptors, who have lost four of five.

Embiid (foot) was upgraded from questionable to available before tipoff. The 76ers got a scare in the first quarter when Embiid crumpled to the court after colliding with Quickley, clutching his right knee. But Philadelphia’s 7-foot center returned later in the period to loud cheers from the home crowd.

The Raptors, playing without Kawhi Leonard (knee) for the 10th straight game and Scottie Barnes (groin) for the fourth consecutive contest, led by as many as 16 points in the opening half.

Philadelphia took control late in the third quarter and entered the final period leading 96-87. The Raptors got within six points on Jamison Battle's 3-pointer with 4:42 left, but the 76ers scored 10 of the next 13 points, capped by Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s 3-pointer.

Toronto was playing the second game of a back-to-back after blowing a 22-point lead in Wednesday’s 98-93 home defeat to the Celtics.

Raptors: Host the New York Knicks on Sunday.

76ers: Host Indiana on Sunday.

See AP’s full NBA coverage here: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Philadelphia 76ers' Tyrese Maxey (0) goes up for a shot between Toronto Raptors' Alijah Martin (55) and Jakob Poeltl (19) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Philadelphia 76ers' Tyrese Maxey, left, gets past Toronto Raptors' Alijah Martin during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid lies on the court after an injury during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Toronto Raptors Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Philadelphia 76ers' Jaylen Brown, left, goes up for a shot against Toronto Raptors' Collin Murray-Boyles during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Philadelphia 76ers' Tyrese Maxey, left, tries to get past Toronto Raptors' Immanuel Quickley during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland said Thursday that he will run for Senate Majority Leader in the next Congress, setting up a challenge to Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer after the party swept to power in the midterm elections.

Van Hollen said in a statement that “the American people called for change” and that is why he is running.

“It’s now on us to meet this moment, and to do that we need new leadership,” Van Hollen said. “This is not about any one person — it’s about answering the call of the American people. That is why I’m running for Senate Majority Leader.”

Van Hollen’s challenge comes after he said he was considering a bid and after Schumer has said he has the necessary support to win. The closed-door, secret-ballot election will be held in early December.

The race will be the first contested election for Democratic leader in decades. The question of whether to reelect Schumer has already divided the caucus and many senators will not say publicly how they will vote. They have privately deliberated about what message to take from the election, and Schumer recruited many of the party’s winning candidates and raised money for them.

Schumer has been talking to Democratic senators since the election and forming an agenda for 2027. In private caucus meetings this week, Schumer laid out a broad plan for their first 100 days in power.

“I’m going to win it,” Schumer told The Associated Press in an interview last week.

In a statement after Van Hollen’s announcement, Schumer said he welcomes any discussion about the future of the caucus.

“I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished together — 55 seats and counting is an amazing result — and I have the votes to continue serving as Democratic Leader,” Schumer said. “I look forward to leading our new Democratic majority and delivering for the American people.”

While Schumer is the favorite to win, Van Hollen’s run exposes a rift in the party that has put Schumer on the defensive since he sided with Republicans on a spending vote in March 2025. Even as he has redeemed himself within his caucus since then — leading them through a government shutdown last year and orchestrating huge wins in the election- many in the Democratic base are agitating for generational change.

Van Hollen, 67, is not that much younger than Schumer, 75. But he has positioned himself as a new face in the party. He has also said he is considering a run for president.

While most Democratic senators have either said they are supporting Schumer or are undecided, Van Hollen has at least one backer in next year’s caucus. Sen.-elect Abdul El-Sayed of Michigan, who won a competitive election in his state last week, posted on X Thursday night that their majority will need “bold leadership.”

“I called on Sen. @ChrisVanHollen to lead our caucus as a candidate back in April because he leads with courage and experience,” El-Sayed wrote. “We need both right now. Which is why I’m proud to stand with him in his bid to lead our Senate majority.”

Several senators have said they are backing Schumer, including incoming Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown, who beat Republican Sen. Jon Husted last week.

Maine Sen. Angus King, an Independent who caucuses with Democrats and votes in the election, issued a statement after Van Hollen’s announcement: “Why would you fire the manager when you just won the World Series?”

“Chuck Schumer is one of the principal architects of the most successful election in modern history, and I see no reason to change the leadership that helped make that success possible,” King wrote.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., listens during a news conference after a policy luncheon on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)

Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., speaks during a panel at Crooked Con at the Walter E Washington Convention Center, in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Nathan Howard)