CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Philadelphia 76ers welcomed Tyrese Maxey back to the lineup on Saturday as they took on the Charlotte Hornets to begin their 3-game road trip. It was a hugely important matchup when considering how tight the standings are and how important the tiebreakers can be.
The Sixers used a big fourth quarter to rally from 15 points down and beat the Hornets 118-114. Philadelphia is now two games up on the Hornets in the standings and own the tiebreaker. It was a huge game from that perspective.
The atmosphere inside of Spectrum Center was loud and rowdy. It was one of the better atmospheres that arena has seen in quite some time and the Sixers noticed. Especially, Maxey who made big plays when it mattered most as he scored 26 points with eight assists and seven rebounds.
“Most definitely, most definitely,” Maxey said of the importance of this one. “I mean, we got a veteran leadership as far as, like, Kyle (Lowry) and Process (Joel Embiid), and PG (Paul George). Those guys, they knew the moment, and, I mean, me, I played in a few playoffs myself, so I kind of knew the moment. I think everybody did a really good job of responding. Everybody was really good. Drum (Andre Drummond) was really good. Kelly (Oubre Jr.) was really good. VJ (Edgecombe) made some hell of a plays.”
Maxey was 3-for-6 from deep on the night which is a terrific sign. When he suffered the same injury in the 2024-25 season, he was not as efficient with his shot before the Sixers shut him down. He admitted that he felt a little different this time around with the injury.
“It was different,” he explained. “Last year I didn’t stop playing. So this year, like, you know, it’s still there, for sure, but like, it’s way different. I don’t have to play with the buddy tape, and that really helps. That really helps, and shoutout to the medical staff. They did a really good job with helping me. I told him this, I gotta play. I gotta play, man. My three weeks is up. I told y’all, I’ll y’all three weeks. My three weeks was up today.”
While the Sixers listed Maxey as questionable on Friday evening, he didn’t know if it was a possibility for him to return until Saturday morning. He had to take the proper precautions.
“I had to pass all the tests and, like, talk to the different doctors and do all the medical staff told me to do,” he added. “I played no 5-on-5, no nothing. I just said, You know what? I’ve been working my tail off, and I want to be there for my team.”
When considering the finger is on his right hand, and how little time is left in the season, one has to wonder if this is something that Maxey will have to deal with until the end of the season.
“Let’s not say that!” he stated. “I mean, I don’t want it to, you know what I mean? I’m just gonna play it day-by-day, you know what I’m saying? I’ll be all right. I’m not about to sit here and complain. I’m not about to complain about nothing.”
The important factor is that Maxey is back and the Sixers now have eight games remaining to lock up a playoff spot in the top 6. A matchup with the Miami Heat looms on Monday.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Tyrese Maxey reacts to return after helping Sixers knock off Hornets