The Philadelphia 76ers still went to battle against the Denver Nuggets despite having an undermanned lineup. A handful of injuries and COVID-19 concerns left the Sixers to only have seven active players on the floor which gave the spotlight to rookie Tyrese Maxey.
He got the first start of his NBA career and made the most out of it as he scored a career-high 39 points along with seven rebounds and six assists through 43 minutes played. His performance eventually etched him in franchise record books alongside Sixers icon Allen Iverson.
“The 39 points scored by Maxey are the most by a Sixers rookie since Allen Iverson dropped 40 points versus the Washington Bullets on April 14, 1997. The performance also marked the most points scored by a rookie in their first career start since 1970.”
Maxey carried most of the scoring load for the team followed by seldom-used Isaiah Joe who added 13 points and Dwight Howard who came out with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
The Doc Rivers-led squad didn't go down without a fight as they managed to keep within striking distance. The 76ers attempted a late-game comeback but eventually ran out of time to succumb to a 115-103 defeat. After the loss, the team still holds the top spot in the Eastern Conference with a 7-3 record while the Nuggets improved to a 4-5 tally.
Tyrese Maxey's impressive performance speaks volumes about the things that he can do on the floor once he is given more opportunities to contribute to the team. The 76ers will hope to have most of their players back in time for their matchup against the Atlanta Hawks on Jan. 11.
Follow Us
Subscribe