Marcus Hayes: Tyrese Maxey, new Sixers alpha, would not let them lose Game 5 in New York despite Joel Embiid's struggles
Published in Basketball
NEW YORK — As it turns out, the reports of the Sixers’ death were greatly exaggerated.
Surely, the reports were only premature — it’s got to end badly sooner or later — but they’re not dead yet.
Not as long as Tyrese Maxey is running, Tobias Harris is hustling and Joel Embiid is limping.
Maxey dropped 46 points on the Knicks, including a 34-foot 3-pointer near the end of regulation that forced overtime in the 112-106 Game 5 win against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
Harris, at the end of his exorbitant contract, scored 19.
Embiid overcame a poor offensive night: 19 points on 7-for-19 shooting with a career-high nine turnovers, though he played big in the final moments.
He stonewalled Josh Hart at the rim and began a fast break that gave the Sixers a one-point lead, then stole the ball from Jalen Brunson and converted an and-one three-point play at the other end to make it 106-102. That pretty much did it.
He won his first elimination game in seven tries — or rather, Maxey did.
The series returns to Philly on Thursday night. Why?
Because the Sixers played hard. Harder than the Knicks. Finally.
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