Tyrese Maxey erupted for a career-high 54 points to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a 123-114 overtime victory against the Milwaukee Bucks on Nov. 20. The performance highlighted Maxey's ascension as one of the NBA's top scorers, averaging 32.2 points per game this season. Anthony Edwards texted Maxey calling him a 'filthy bastard' after the game.
In a standout performance at Fiserv Forum, Tyrese Maxey carried the Philadelphia 76ers to a 123-114 overtime win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Nov. 20, scoring a career-high 54 points and adding nine assists. This marked only the second time in Sixers history a player achieved 50-plus points and nine assists in a game, joining Wilt Chamberlain.
Maxey, now in his sixth NBA season, is averaging 32.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 7.5 assists while shooting 47/40.9/87.8 in 39.9 minutes per game. He ranks second in league scoring, tied for second in 3-pointers made, seventh in assists, and first in minutes played. Tied for second in 40-point games with three and third in 30-point games with nine, Maxey's shooting efficiency stands out: 40.9% from three on 9.6 attempts, including 39.4% from 25-29 feet, second among qualifiers.
"He's got a unique double threat which is the speed, which will get him past people, and then the really deep shooting range," Sixers coach Nick Nurse said. Maxey also excels driving, with 14.9 drives per game (10th in NBA) and 5.6 restricted-area attempts (sixth among guards), shooting 62.1% at the rim.
Despite injuries limiting Joel Embiid to six games and Paul George to three, the 76ers are 9-8 and ninth in the East. Maxey credited last season's finger injury, which sidelined him for 22 games during a 24-58 campaign, for allowing recovery and film study. "Every shot that I shoot is a shot that I worked on before, so I have confidence in it," Maxey said.
Facing increased defenses, Maxey has boosted his playmaking, averaging 7.8 assists (career high) and 73.4 passes per game (second in NBA), with a 32.5% assist rate. His team has a +2.8 net rating with him on the floor versus -11.6 off. "It's evident how much we need him," Nurse said. Paul George called Maxey "special," while VJ Edgecombe dubbed him the NBA's best point guard.
Maxey remains committed: "If I can run, I'm playing. I just want to win."