Four defeats in as many matches. This was the record displayed by the Sixers this season when they played without Joel Embiid. An improved record in recent days with a victory in Orlando, then last night in Houston.
Author of 23 points in Florida, Tyrese Maxey scored almost double against the Rockets. The Sixers leader started his meeting with one idea in mind: attack, attack and attack again. He continued to harass the opposing defense with his penetrations, managing to create spaces where there were none.
“ It was a little difficult at the start, they crashed into us, so I wanted to be ultra aggressive to help my teammates get into the match. It happens like that sometimes. Once you get in there and get set up, you're good “, simply describes the team leader when the pivot is not there.
An impression confirmed by his coach, Nick Nurse. “ It was a good level of aggression for him tonight. I thought he was very good with his reactors. I love it when he takes off and tries to create something. He took shots but he was on the free throw line, because he was aggressive and looking for contact », deciphers the technician in reference to the 15 throws obtained by his player (14/15).
Joel Embiid's confidence
Less happy, as his coach points out, behind the 3-point line (2/9), Tyrese Maxey finished the game with 42 points (13/26 on shots), his second biggest eruption of the season after his 50 points, in addition to 4 rebounds and 4 assists.
Underlining the heavy work in defense of his teammate Tobias Harris (22 points) in front of Alperen Sengun at the end of the game, the 23-year-old player reports that Joel Embiid “ trust in [eux], in [leurs] performance if he is injured or needs a night off “.
“ So we're great. I find that our record (without Joel Embiid) does not show it, but we are starting to move forward, we know how we want to play, defend, it will go well for us », concludes the one who, averaging 26 points over the season, is heading straight towards his first All-Star Game.
| Tyrese Maxey | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2020-21 | PHL | 61 | 15 | 46.2 | 30.1 | 87.1 | 0.2 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 2.0 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 8.0 |
| 2021-22 | PHL | 75 | 35 | 48.5 | 42.7 | 86.6 | 0.4 | 2.9 | 3.2 | 4.3 | 2.1 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 17.5 |
| 2022-23 | PHL | 60 | 34 | 48.1 | 43.4 | 84.5 | 0.4 | 2.6 | 2.9 | 3.5 | 2.2 | 0.8 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 20.3 |
| 2023-24 | PHL | 29 | 37 | 45.9 | 39.3 | 88.2 | 0.6 | 3.3 | 3.9 | 6.6 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 25.8 |
| Total | 225 | 30 | 47.5 | 40.9 | 86.4 | 0.3 | 2.5 | 2.8 | 3.8 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 16.7 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
