SALT LAKE CITY — The shot clock-decreasing foul prompted a challenge from Utah Jazz coach Will Hardy, then the home crowd whistled as the whistle blew, then cheered when Paul George missed the first free throw.

But the 76ers’ perennial All-Star failed on the second attempt and then broke another pair on his team’s ensuing possession. Tyrese Maxey added another two with 2.4 seconds left in the game, helping the Sixers overcome a sluggish start and secure a 114-111 win Saturday night at Delta Center.

It was the Sixers’ ninth win in their last 12 games, continuing their overall positive momentum, much of which has come with improving health and continuity. They outrebounded the reinventing Jazz 48-32 and allowed Utah to get into the game with relative ease by scoring inside finishes, lob passes and kick-outs for three-point attempts.

And there was some late drama as Lauri Markkanen sank a three-pointer to put the Jazz up 112-111 with 4.1 seconds left before Maxey made the final free throws.

Joel Embiid finished the game with 32 points, five rebounds, four assists and four steals – including the go-ahead score with less than two minutes to play – after being listed as questionable for the game with a left ankle sprain and a sinus fracture come. Maxey added 32 points, six assists and two steals. George’s 13 points and five steals came after he sat out much of the second half with five fouls. Guerschon Yabusele scored 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, of course, was at the center of the mini-rally, with an inside finish and then an old-fashioned three-point play to put the Sixers up 101-100 with less than five minutes to play.

Later, Embiid beat off a lob attempt to Kessler on defense, then somehow passed the ball and fell to Maxey, who hit a three-pointer at the end of the shot clock that put the Sixers up 105-103 with 3:03 to play. Embiid then hit a mid-range jump shot to give the Sixers a 110-108 lead with under two minutes left.

Entering 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 that got their best win of the season at the Boston Celtics on Christmas. The Sixers trailed 42-28 early in the second quarter before answering 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 lead provided.

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