Philadelphia 76ers star Tyrese Maxey wasn’t even supposed to play on Monday night. This is after the All-Star point guard was listed as questionable to play ahead of Game 2 against the New York Knicks due to an illness.
Well, Maxey powered through his sickness to put up a game-high 35 points for the Sixers. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t enough.
Maxey’s Game 2 performance had shades of Michael Jordan’s famed Flu Game. Granted, the 23-year-old wasn’t exactly the GOAT’s second coming, but there’s no denying that Maxey turned in a very impressive performance amid his undesirable physical condition.
After the tough loss, Maxey admitted that he was far from a hundred percent on Monday night:
“I don’t feel great at all, honestly,” he said, via Sam DiGiovanni of ClutchPoints. “… I took medicine, took an IV… I wasn’t missing the game. I don’t feel great but it is what it is.”
“I don’t feel great, honestly… I took medicine, took an IV… I wasn’t missing the game.”
Tyrese Maxey after his 35-point performance in the Sixers’ Game 2 loss against the Knicks ️
(via @BySamDiGiovanni) pic.twitter.com/235JxJom9t
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) April 23, 2024
Despite his illness, Maxey still exploded for 35 points on 12-of-22 shooting, to go along with nine rebounds, 10 assists, and five triples in 44 minutes of action.
Unfortunately for the Sixers, not even Maxey’s heroic performance was enough to secure a win in Madison Square Garden. The Knicks pulled off a crucial 104-101 come-from-behind win to go up 2-0 in the series.
The silver lining for Maxey here is that he will get a couple of days’ rest now that the series shifts to Philadelphia. The Sixers need another incredible performance from him in Game 3 on Thursday because another loss could spell the end of the season for them.
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