Tyrese Maxey Delivers Clutch Performance in Sixers’ Home Opener Victory
The Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Charlotte Hornets 125-121 in their home opening at Wells Fargo Center on Saturday night, thanks to another outstanding performance from Tyrese Maxey.
In his 42 minutes of play, the 24-year-old guard ended with 28 points, 9 assists, and 6 rebounds, displaying the playmaking skills that have made him one of the league’s most promising young players.
Maxey’s Hot Start Sets the Tone
Tyrese Maxey wasted no time getting his offense going, erupting for 22 points in the opening quarter. The Kentucky product connected on four of his first five three-point attempts, displaying the shooting stroke that has become his calling card.
“He played a really balanced quarter as he dished out four assists as well,” noted one observer of Maxey’s complete first-quarter performance.
The explosive start helped Philadelphia build an early lead and gave the home crowd something to cheer about in their first glimpse of the 2024-25 Sixers.
Cooling Off But Staying Involved
Tyrese Maxey continued to play a significant role in Philadelphia’s offensive effort throughout the game, despite cooling off significantly after his explosive start and finishing 7-of-20 from the field overall. His nine assists tied his season-high and showed that he was still improving as the Sixers’ main offensive facilitator. Even when his shot wasn’t falling in the second half, Maxey found ways to impact winning.
The former first-round pick showed impressive resilience, bouncing back from a quiet stretch in the middle quarters to help seal the victory down the stretch.
Fourth Quarter Heroics
When Philadelphia needed him most, Tyrese Maxey delivered in crunch time. With the Sixers trailing late in the fourth quarter, head coach Nick Nurse turned to his young star to carry the offensive load.
“For as much as he cooled off in the second half, the Sixers gave the ball to Maxey just about every time down the floor in the guts of the game and he delivered,” the game recap noted. His ability to create offense under pressure proved crucial as Philadelphia mounted its comeback bid. When Charlotte doubled Maxey late in the game, he made the smart play, finding an open Quentin Grimes for the go-ahead basket with 13.9 seconds remaining.
