Tyrese Maxey has improved in each season of his NBA career since being drafted 21st overall in the 2020 NBA Draft and was named an All-Star for the first time in his young career in 2023-24. The Philadelphia 76ers guard – who was forced to lead the team for much of the season with Joel Embiid missing 43 games – has been added to the injury report ahead of their Game 2 matchup with the New York Knicks.
Maxey is listed as questionable to play due to an illness that forced him to miss Monday’s morning shootaround. The 76ers have already fallen in a hole after suffering a 111-104 loss in Game 1. While Joel Embiid is also listed as questionable due to his recovery from left knee surgery, he is also expected to play. The 2022-23 NBA MVP briefly left the series opener after throwing down an off-the-backboard alley-oop to himself and landing awkwardly late in the second quarter. He appeared to injure his left leg on the play, but returned to the court to start the second half.
Can the Philadelphia 76ers win without Tyrese Maxey?
Tyrese Maxey played great in the Philadelphia 76ers’ 111-104 series opening loss to the New York Knicks on Saturday. He finished with 33 points, two rebounds, four assists and two blocks while shooting 14-26 from the field, outplaying fellow All-Stars Joel Embiid and Jalen Brunson.
While Philadelphia still has the reigning MVP to lean on, Embiid struggled in Game 1. He finished with 29 points, eight rebounds, six assists and two steals, however, he shot just 8-22 from the field and 2-8 from three-point range. The seven-time All-Star did get to the free-throw line at a high rate, knocking down 11 of his 12 attempts.
Aside from Maxey and Embiid, Kyle Lowry and Kelly Oubre were the only two 76ers who scored in double figures – finishing with 18 and 10 points, respectively. If the one-time All-Star is forced to miss Game 2, Philadelphia will need their role players to step up as the Knicks defense will be able to key in on Embiid.
Maxey set career-highs across the board in 2023-24, averaging 25.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.5 blocks per game while shooting 45.0% from the field, 37.3% from three-point range and 86.8% from the free-throw line.
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