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Tyrese Maxey's poor game from Christmas is firmly a thing of the past after the Philadelphia 76ers' win over the Orlando Magic. The Sixers got back in the win column without Joel Embiid as Maxey shined against one of the best defenses in the NBA.
Maxey tallied 23 points, six rebounds and two assists on 9-18 shooting from the field, including 3-6 from deep. He got some tough shots to fall, overcoming a tough defender in Jalen Suggs and big bodies all over the floor. The Sixers got key performances from other players but it all started with the rising star guard.
“I stayed aggressive,” Maxey said to reporters after the Sixers' win. “I let the game come to me. I think a little bit more tonight, though. You know, I didn't try to go out there and be ultra-ultra-aggressive at the beginning. Kind of let it come to me and shots fell — the same shots that I've been making the whole year.”
Tyrese Maxey needed a game like this after struggling so badly on Christmas in a loss against the Miami Heat. He couldn’t buy a shot and looked way overmatched without Embiid's help. This game was a totally different story.
Nick Nurse said that Maxey “had another little mountain, a little hill to climb there right away” after picking up two early fouls. But Maxey wasn’t deterred. Such is life when you’re on your way to being an All-Star. This wasn’t one of Maxey's best games statistically but given what he needed to lead the Sixers, this game was spectacular.
“I think that he read the game well,” Nurse said. “He blasted in there when he saw an opening. He played through some bumps. Got some space for some threes when those were open. You probably saw we got him off the ball a little more tonight, so he was a recipient of some weak side stuff too. So, great bounce back. I mean, most guys in this league go through 4-20s — most really good players. He did good to bounce back from it. I'm sure he's happier today than he was a couple days ago.”
