Vernon Maxwell

According to 76ers coach John Lucas, Vernon Maxwell is one of the few players on the roster - perhaps the only one - who comes to play every night with a full game's worth of intensity. "There's only one guy with NBA energy out there a lot of times, and that's Maxwell," Lucas said after the Sixers defeated the Vancouver Grizzlies, 103-92, last night in the CoreStates Spectrum. Unfortunately for Maxwell and sometimes for those teams that employ him, that energy occasionally is misdirected.

Vernon Maxwell scored 31 of his 34 points in the second half last night as the Houston Rockets bounced back from their Game 2 collapse to defeat host Phoenix, 118-102, for their first victory in the best-of-seven series. In a series punctuated by big comebacks by the visitors, this time it was the Rockets who played catch up. "In the first half, I was down because my shot wasn't falling," Maxwell said. "But in the locker room at halftime the guys told me to be more aggressive and make KJ (Suns' Kevin Johnson)

The Sacramento Kings said guard Bobby Hurley sprained his ankle while playing in a game last week in his hometown of Jersey City, N.J. Two New Jersey newspapers, the Jersey Journal of Jersey City and the Recond of Hackensack, reported Hurley tore ligaments in his right ankle. The newspapers said he is on crutches and expected to be sidelined four weeks. "I spoke to Bobby two days after that incident," Kings spokesman Travis Stanley said yesterday. "It was nothing more at that time than a sprained ankle.

Houston Rockets guard Vernon Maxwell, known for fits of temper on the court, has been on his best behavior during the NBA Finals, but his scoring outbursts have disappeared along with his emotional outbursts. Going into the series against the provocative New York team, the Rockets were concerned that Maxwell would have trouble reining in his temper. After watching him make 22 shots on 61 attempts in the Finals, some of Maxwell's teammates would like to see more fire in his eyes.

Vernon Maxwell arrived for the first practice of his second stint with the 76ers without basketball shoes, meaning that equipment manager Scott Rego had to quickly hustle up a pair at the nearest sporting-goods store. How Maxwell fills those shoes, and whether he can avoid the controversy that has been part and parcel of his 12-year career, will determine whether his addition - even with a non-guaranteed $1 million contract - was worth the inherent risk. The scenario is this: Prize rookie guard Speedy Claxton is gone for the season after undergoing reconstructive surgery on his left knee, and coach Larry Brown didn't feel comfortable with the idea of using newcomers Jermaine Jackson or Pepe Sanchez in the regular rotation, or even for brief stretches.

The 76ers used the NBA rule book to slap the collective faces of the Atlanta Hawks. They committed what should have been the worst kind of mistake with 10.5 seconds left and still slipped out of Atlanta Saturday night with a 100-99 victory. Vernon Maxwell's jump shot at the final buzzer isn't the only reason the Sixers are going into tonight's game against New Jersey off their 15th victory rather than their 61st loss. This was the scene: The Sixers used their final timeout with 10.5 seconds remaining, locked in a 98-98 tie. Sean Higgins, the trigger man on sideline inbounds plays much of the season, couldn't locate an open teammate and, inexplicably, called timeout.

All in all, Vernon Maxwell, Richard Dumas and Jerry Stackhouse would rather be in Philadelphia, and for one reason. John Lucas. The Sixers yesterday announced the signing of the 30-year-old Maxwell at a news conference at St. Joseph's University. The Sixers had to use their million-dollar salary-cap exemption to sign Maxwell, which means that they cannot use the exemption again until 1997. For his part, Maxwell said he turned down bigger offers from Charlotte and Indiana - for one reason.

A 3-17 record and a lingering ankle injury have combined to make the current season one of the most disappointing of his career, but Vernon Maxwell says he has not had enough of Philadelphia and would like to play for the 76ers again next season. "You have to watch the people's backs who watch yours," he said yesterday after practice. Loyalty is a trait which Maxwell, 30, was accused of lacking last season when he walked out on the Houston Rockets while the team was en route to a second straight NBA championship.

Vernon Maxwell begins his ritual with teammate Shawn Bradley shortly before the start of each game. Maxwell is tired of saying it; Bradley is tired of hearing it. "Do not foul," the 76ers point guard tells the 7-6 center. "Do not foul. Do not foul. " This was one time the message got through. Bradley stayed on the CoreStates Spectrum court 47 of a possible 48 minutes, matched his career-high of 22 rebounds, contributed 23 points and became the fulcrum of a 104-90 victory over the Charlotte Hornets.

John Lucas says it might be a few days before Jerry Stackhouse feels completely comfortable with himself again. "He's still looking over his shoulder somewhat, like a kid who knows he's made a mistake," said Lucas, the Sixers' coach-general manager. "That's a good thing, because it means he's learning something from the experience. " Some experience. Stackhouse returned to the Sixers' lineup in last night's 94-71 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers after sitting out a two-game suspension.