Sixers squeak past Utah Jazz, 114-111, thanks to key free throws from Paul George and Tyrese Maxey

SALT LAKE CITY — The bad call with a dwindling shot clock led to a challenge by Utah Jazz coach Will Hardy, then boos from the home crowd at the whistle, then cheers when Paul George missed the first free throw.

But the 76ers’ perennial All-Star sank the second attempt and then split another pair on his team’s ensuing possession. Tyrese Maxey added two more with 2.4 seconds to play, helping the Sixers overcome a sluggish start to secure a 114-111 victory Saturday night at the Delta Center.

It was the Sixers’ ninth win in their last 12 games, continuing their overall positive momentum that has largely coincided with gaining health and continuity. They outshot the rebuilding Jazz despite being outshot, 48-32, and allowed Utah to get into the paint with relative ease for inside finishes, lob passes and kick-outs for three-point attempts.

And that included some late drama when Lauri Markkanen buried a three-pointer to get the Jazz within 112-111 with 4.1 seconds left before Maxey’s final free throw.

Joel Embiid finished with 32 points, five rebounds, four assists and four steals — including the go-ahead jumper with less than two minutes to play — after entering the game listed as questionable with a sprained left foot and sinus fracture. Maxey added 32 points, six assists and two steals. George’s 13 points and five steals came after he sat a significant portion of the second half with five fouls. Guerschon Yabusele had 12 points, seven rebounds and two assists in 22 minutes off the bench.

The Sixers erased a six-point deficit with about seven minutes left when Utah’s Walker Kessler converted an alley-oop dunk through contact. Embiid was, of course, at the epicenter of the mini-rally, with an inside finish and then an old-fashioned three-point play to get the Sixers within 101-100 with less than five minutes to play.

Later, Embiid knocked a lob attempt away to Kessler on the defensive end and somehow got the ball while falling to Maxey for a three-pointer that put the Sixers up 105-103 with 3:03 left. to play. Embiid then hit a midrange jumper to give the Sixers a 110-108 advantage with less than two minutes left.

At the start of the game, the Sixers looked like the team that had played eight of their last nine games on the road, while the Jazz looked like the team coming off their best win of the season at the Boston Celtics on Christmas. The Sixers trailed 42-28 early in the second quarter before responding with a 20-5 run, including a George behind-the-back pass to Maxey for a one-handed dunk that gave them a three-point advantage.

The Sixers continue their Western Conference swing on Monday at the Portland Trail Blazers (10 p.m., NBCSP), before a back-to-back at the Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively.