Tyrese Maxey Scores 33 In Dramatic 76ers Win Over Cavaliers

Tyrese Maxey

Tyrese Maxey is Philadelphia’s version of a Big 3.

Tyrese Maxey made 5 3-pointers and managed to score 33 points to help the 76ers win their 5th straight game, 125-119 over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night.

“I don’t think we look at it as Big 3, Big 2,” Maxey said. “I think we look at it as one unit.”

The 76ers improved to 4-0 with Harden in the lineup. Harden had 25 points and 11 assists. Embiid added 22 points and nine rebounds.

Maxey, though, stole the show.

“On any given night, it can be any one of us to go off,” Harden said. “Tyrese really picked it up for us tonight.”

Tyrese Maxey Broke Through The Opposition In The Second Half

The second-year guard out of Kentucky tore through the Cavaliers in the second half and seemingly turned Embiid and Harden into bystanders. His best sequence came in the fourth. Tyrese Maxey hit a 3 that gave the Sixers a one-point lead, then he drained a 3 off a pass from Harden on the break that made it 110-106 and had the Philly crowd going wild.

Harden held his arms high and beckoned the crowd to get even louder.

Maxey made 10 of 15 shots (5 of 6 on 3s) and 8 of 9 from the free-throw line with five assists.

“He’s a fearless kid,” coach Doc Rivers said.

Harden, who had at least 20 points and 10 assists for the third time in four games, picked up his third foul at 8:32 in the second quarter and took only four shots through three. Yet, he still had 18 points (and nine assists) on the strength of two 3s and 8 of 8 from the free-throw line.

“I’ve got to do a better job of being more solid,” Harden said. “I’ve got to be smarter so I can be out there and help my team.”

His fast success with Embiid was expected. But his presence has turned Maxey into a knock-off, Allen Iverson, since his arrival.

Maxey made 76ers fans – and, frankly, the 76ers – forget about Ben Simmons with his play this season.

He turned it on in the third quarter and brought the Sixers back from long-range, attacking the net, and even with a nifty pass off the break to Embiid.