Tyrese Maxey led the way for the Philadelphia 76ers with a 46-point performance in Game 5 of their first-round series against the New York Knicks. The talented young guard’s stellar outing helped Philly secure a 112-106 win, thereby extending the series. Maxey scored some big buckets in the clutch period to force the game into overtime. Despite efforts from Josh Hart and Donte DiVincenzo, it was extremely difficult to stop him on the night due to his fiery speed.
Joel Embiid put up a triple-double against the Knicks by scoring 19 points, 16 rebounds and making 10 assists. He was well-defended by the Knicks bigs Mitchell Robinson and Isaiah Hartenstein. However, the former MVP found ways to be effective and help his team to stay in the game. Tobias Harris and Kelly Oubre Jr. also had valuable performances as the duo combined for 33 points in Game 5.
Madison Square Garden was loud and loved what they were seeing from their beloved Knicks. Jalen Brunson had another big performance as he dropped 40 points on 46.9% shooting from the field. OG Anunoby, Josh Hart and Miles McBride also chipped in with 17, 18 and 14 points respectively. The Knicks had a six-point lead with just 30 seconds left to play. But Tyrese Maxey was able to draw a foul on a three-point attempt, which led to the 76ers forcing a comeback into the game. Tom Thibodeau and his team will now have to travel to Philly for Game 6, which could prove to be tricky for them.
Tyrese Maxey has played like a superstar in the Playoffs
Tyrese Maxey has taken his game to a different level this season. Prior to the start of the season, the 76ers had James Harden on the roster and he was expected to be the second star behind Joel Embiid. However, the ten-time All-Star demanded a trade before the start of the season and was eventually sent to the LA Clippers, which opened the doors for Maxey to take over the point guard responsibilities.
Despite missing out on Joel Embiid for a huge part of the season, the 76ers managed to stay in contention for the Playoff spots. This was due to Tyrese Maxey as he elevated his game in the absence of the former MVP and this helped him bag the Most Improved Player of the Year honours. The 23-year-old has continued his exploits in the postseason and is leading the way for the 76ers in their pursuit of a deep playoff run.
He is currently averaging 32.4 PPG on an efficient 50% shooting from the field. Maxey’s clutch performances have been crucial for Philly in their bid to win against the Knicks. With Joel Embiid not fully fit, not many were picking Philly to defeat the Knicks in a playoff series. However, with the kind of performances Tyrese Maxey is dropping, Nick Nurse and his men can certainly overturn the 3-2 lead and surprise a few NBA experts.
