MY ACCOUNT
With Joel Embiid out of the line-up for the Philadelphia 76ers’ trip to take on the Toronto Raptors, it was third-year guard Tyrese Maxey rising to the challenge to set a new career-high points total in the 112-90 win.
Maxey, who prior to Friday had only ever scored more than 33 points once – a 39-point effort against the Denver Nuggets as a rookie – set a new personal-best with 44 points against the Raptors.
He was incredibly efficient, hitting 15-of-20 from the field and nine-of-12 from three-point range, while also leading the 76ers with eight rebounds and chipping in four assists. Maxey had 27 points without missing a shot in just the first half, going 10-for-10 from the field while hitting all seven of his three-point attempts.
Former league MVP James Harden was happy to cede the responsibility to his less-experienced running-mate, finishing with just 11 points, four rebounds and four assists as he assumed a supporting role.
It was also a breakout performance for De’Anthony Melton, who was given his first start in a 76ers uniform after being acquired in the offseason and made his presence felt defensively, snatching five steals to go with his 13 points, six assists and five rebounds.
Speaking to the media after the game, Maxey said his big night was simply the product of the offense running smoothly.
“It was [about] getting good looks,” he said. “We got to the paint, sprayed off for threes, got in transition, and once you get stops, the game becomes way easier honestly, for not just myself, but for all of us.
“We were getting to the paint and driving and kicking, creating, generating offense for everybody. That’s why I got open threes, why [Melton] got open threes, Tobias [Harris] got open threes.
“I just know how good we can be, I know how talented we are, but we’ve got to match our talent with the energy that we play with, and defensive tenacity.
“Tonight we knew it was going to be extremely hard without Joel. That made guys step up, that made guys do things they don’t normally do.”
Teammate Matisse Thybulle was thrilled to see Maxey shine, but he said it was no surprise.
“Every time he gets an opportunity, he does something big with it,” he said. “You could even take it back to the COVID games we were looking at our bench, like who’s gonna be the one to step up?
“Tyrese Maxey did – and it’s like, time after time – Tyrese is the one that steps up, shows up big and he does it, obviously, as an individual, but for the team, and we all benefit from it.”
Head coach Doc Rivers also enjoyed the show, and he pointed to it as an indicator of how well the 76ers adjusted without their star center.
“I just think he’s a heck of a basketball player,” he said. “We came into the game knowing Joel wasn’t gonna play… we talked to [the rest of the team] this morning about trying to find matchups and then spacing the floor and attacking.
“They are a great help-defensive team and they can’t stop it. Us getting into the paint sucked everybody in, and that’s where we got shots. I thought we were ready for that and I thought we did a good job.”
After starting the season with three consecutive losses, the 76ers have now won two of their past three to take a 2-4 record into their road trip against the Chicago Bulls on Saturday night.
