Nets star James Harden impressed by Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey
For the Philadelphia 76ers to get the job done on Thursday in a win over the Brooklyn Nets, they needed to give Joel Embiid a little help. The big fella had 34 points and six rebounds as he continues to rack up accomplishments.
Tyrese Maxey stepped up to the challenge. He poured in 25 points, including knocking down a career-high five 3s. He made four of them after halftime, with two coming in the fourth quarter when the Sixers needed them most.
He also did so while tasked with defending Nets superstar James Harden and he caught the eye of Harden after the win.
“He knocked down some big-time shots,” said Harden. “A couple 3s — more than a couple — I think he hit three or four 3s in that fourth quarter. Pull up, he was being ultra-aggressive, which he’s been their starting point guard for the entire year, so he has that green light to attack the basket, to shoot a shot and he did that. He made some big shots for them and that was the game.”
Harden had a big game himself by going for 33 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists. He got to the foul line 18 times. In short, he looked like himself in a season that has been a little weird for him on offense.
However, he committed six turnovers; Maxey did not back down from the challenge of defending him.
“The key that Doc (Rivers) has been stressing all year with Tyrese is make them work against pressure, make them work against bringing it up,” said acting head coach Dan Burke. “It doesn’t have to be a steal or anything, but turn them, make them use clock, it eliminates two more options maybe at the other end.”
Maxey fouled Harden while he took jumpers, but other than that, it wasn’t a bad night for him on the defensive end despite what Harden’s final stat line was.
“I thought you gotta quit fouling jump shooters, but the positive is James knows he’s there,” Burke added. “As long as Harden knows Tyrese is coming, we got a little bit of a chance. Not much, but we’ll play the odds on that.”
The Sixers head into 2022 and a matchup with the Houston Rockets on Monday.
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