29 October 2023 , 17:39
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Philadelphia 76ers star Tyrese Maxey has been stepping up to perform in the absence of James Harden this season.
The Sixers have started the 2023/24 NBA season 1-1 after an opening-game loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. The defeat was followed by a 114-107 win over the Toronto Raptors on Saturday night.
Maxey has been one of the star players for the Sixers earlyy this season, impressing in both games against the Bucks and the Raptors. The first-round pick from the 2020 NBA Draft scored 34 points with six rebounds and seven assists in the win at Scotiabank Arena.
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The 34 points were the same amount scored by reigning NBA MVP Joel Embiid, who has also started well this season as the Sixers look to improve on last season's defeatvin the playoffs. Embiid, who recently made the decision to play for Team USA at next year’s Olympics in Paris, explained what he has liked most from Maxey’s game so far this season.
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“He was impressive,” Embiid told when asked after the win over Toronto. “That’s what we’ve been talking about. Especially, with our two-man game.
“I’ve been trying to help him and he’s doing his thing. You can’t get too high, you can’t get too low.
“Sometimes, you make shots, sometimes you don’t, but it’s all about making the right plays and I think he’s doing that. Tonight, he should’ve had zero turnovers again, he had one, but who cares about turning the ball over when you’re being aggressive?”
Maxey’s impressive start to the season comes amid continued uncertainty around James Harden’s future. The 10-time NBA All-Star is yet to play a game for the Sixers this season, as links around a potential trade still dominate the headlines.
According to a report by , Harden’s absence from the opening game against the Bucks led to an investigation by the NBA. It was stated that the purpose of the investigation was to determine if Harden had violated the league’s player participation policy.
James Harden is yet to play for the Philadelphia 76ers this season (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)Despite Harden not being on the court, Maxey has stepped in to fill the void of the 34-year-old’s absence. And the performances of the fourth-year guard have not gone unnoticed by Sixers head coach Nick Nurse.
“I’ll state the obvious, right? He’s really playing well,” said Nurse. “He’s doing what he can do.
“He’s shooting the ball well from deep and creating space. He’s creating some contact and finishing at the rim. Obviously, he’s getting his chances to get his assists, but he’s also taking care of the ball.”