While Joel Embiid and James Harden have gotten the most attention for the Philadelphia 76ers, it was Tyrese Maxey that really took over to lead Philadelphia to a 131-111 victory over the Toronto Raptors in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series on Saturday.
Maxey scored 38 points (14-of-21 from the field, 5-of-5 from the free-throw line). The 21-year-old scored 21 of his 38 points in the third quarter. He becomes the youngest player in Sixers history to score 30-plus points in a playoff game.
.@TyreseMaxey in the third quarter:
21 PTS / 7-8 fg / 2-2 3fg / 5-5 FT pic.twitter.com/rbXKC3Ww8n
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) April 17, 2022
Tyrese Maxey receives a standing ovation after dropping 38 PTS in Game 1 👏 pic.twitter.com/m2116zbqIz
— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 17, 2022
As a team, the Sixers committed just three turnovers, tied for the lowest by a team in NBA playoff history.
The Sixers had 3 turnovers vs the Raptors in Game 1.
Ties the fewest in a playoff game in NBA history. pic.twitter.com/Z0hBpD7HWR
— StatMuse (@statmuse) April 17, 2022
So, the Raptors have a lot to figure out in order to hang in this series, and it’s clearly going to take much more than just preventing Embiid and Harden from going off.
Here’s a sampling of how the basketball world is reacting to Maxey’s performance:
"Tyrese is great, he has game and he works his butt off"
James Harden on the play of Tyrese Maxey in the @sixers Game 1 win. pic.twitter.com/H1bYBfwfvN
— NBA (@NBA) April 17, 2022
What it's all about ❤️@TyreseMaxey | @sixers pic.twitter.com/ySMayv47ZC
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 17, 2022
Oh my, @TyreseMaxey 😱
— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) April 17, 2022
I've said this all year, but now that the whole country (or 2) is watching, it's worth a repeat:
What @TyreseMaxey has done this season has been incredible. 21 years old, in an unprecedented new role, constantly challenged, & stayed coolheaded, confident, and kind.
He's a star.
— Lauren Rosen (@LaurenMRosen) April 17, 2022
Still can’t believe that many teams pass up on maxey!!
— Darius Slay (@bigplay24slay) April 16, 2022