Tyrese Maxey recorded a career-high 39 points on Saturday, but the effort wasn’t enough as the undermanned Philadelphia 76ers fell to the Denver Nuggets, 115-103.
The Sixers had just seven players available to play after injuries and issues related to the coronavirus wiped out over half of the roster. The shorthanded Sixers were forced to turn to Maxey as the 21st overall pick made the first start of his career in the contest.
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 now has the highest-scoring performance by a rookie this season.
https://embed.sendtonews.com/oembed/?SC=W5hnkSarg0-1102388-7498&format=json&offsetx=0&offsety=0&floatwidth=400&floatposition=bottom-right&float=on
Maxey finished by adding seven rebounds, six assists and two steals in 44 minutes of work, while he shot 18-of-33 from the field. Sixers head coach Doc Rivers afterward said he tried to draw up a few plays late to get him over the 40-point threshold but Maxey was unable to get there.
While the story of the game was certainly the 76ers playing without nine players, the emergence of Maxey will be one bright spot the team can take from the outcome. He has shown flashes in a small role to this point but he proved he is capable of performing when called upon.
[lawrence-related id=26002,24760,24435]
[listicle id=25816]