The Philadelphia 76ers were able to come away with a trilling 122-119 overtime win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday at home despite missing Joel Embiid due to a planned rest day. The Sixers had to lean on others in order to get the job done and that is exactly what happened.
Second-year guard Tyrese Maxey led the way with 33 points and eight assists as he went toe-to-toe with Grizzlies star Ja Morant and he didn’t blink. Maxey shot 13-for-23 and he knocked down a triple and he had four blocks and he surprised Andre Drummond who may not have known too much about his game at this point of his career.
“Watching him in college, I knew what kind of player he was, and the spurts he had last season when Ben (Simmons) was in and out of the lineups,” said Drummond. “He’s a helluva basketball player, a great leader at such a young age, he has a lot on his shoulders being in the position that he’s in to carrying an entire team, he’s great. He’s a great basketball player and I’m glad that he’s my point guard.”
It was an impressive showing for Maxey as he was able to really empty the tank. He had to battle against one of the league’s premier players while also being a leader on the offensive end and providing offense without Embiid.
He had a layup to end the game on the break, but he did say he wanted to dunk it and celebrate with the crowd a bit.
“I wish I had enough energy to dunk it!” laughed Maxey. “Try to make it a little more ‘rah-rah’, but I’m not gonna lie to you, I was like I can’t. I had nothing left in the tank. This is gonna be a layup, but our fans are great. They show up every night no matter who we’re playing. I think every time I look at the sheet it says ‘sellout’ so it’s an amazing feeling to play here in Philly. I was just hyped.”
whattttt a finish in Philly! 76ers hold Morant at the death, unbelievably high IQ save by Matisse Thybulle, to Tyrese Maxey for his season-high and the nail. all hail!! pic.twitter.com/23nLNiXGWz
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) February 1, 2022
What impressed coach Doc Rivers was the fact that Maxey had eight assists. That is something that has been coming along with his offense as he continues his development as a point guard.
“He was great,” said Rivers. “They were picking on him on the other end, obviously, with (Desmond) Bane, but we needed him on the floor…overall, eight assists, I thought it was his best passing game as well. We talked about that, if they’re gonna help, if you just make the flow passes, we’re gonna get good shots.”
His development as a player has been impressive and the Sixers have greatly benefitted from Maxey’s growth.
“He was great out there tonight,” said Tobias Harris. “His speed all throughout the game, his energy level, big plays in the fourth quarter and overtime, really the whole game. He just had that energy, that look in him out there that he wanted to get to it and he had a great night for us. A big reason why we won that game.”
This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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