The Philadelphia 76ers won one of two nail-biting performances last week, and sit in the middle of their much needed All-Star break. Last night, the team also had Tyrese Maxey participate in the All-Star game to showcase some of Philadelphia’s excellence. On Thursday and Friday, the Sixers host both the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers this week. These two games play a large role in the Eastern Conference standings as the 76ers are currently the five seed with a record of 32-22.
Sixers’ Two Thrilling Games Last Week
On Monday last week, the Sixers traveled to Cleveland and upset the current two-seeded Cavaliers 123-121. Maxey had 22 points and nine assists in the win, and both newcomer Buddy Hield and Kelly Oubre Jr. added 24 points on excellent shooting splits. Hield had a couple of clutch threes down the stretch, and Paul Reed got a massive block to seal the deal. On Wednesday, the 76ers hosted the Miami Heat on Valentine’s Day. With a back-and-forth affair, especially in the first half, Philadelphia lost 109-104 despite 30 points from Maxey.
Tyrese Maxey’s All-Star Weekend
Tyrese Maxey was the sole player from the 76ers to participate in the All-Star game on Sunday night, with Joel Embiid, previously named a starter, unable to play due to injury. Maxey contributed to the Eastern Conference All-Stars’ 211-186 win against the West, tallying 10 points, three rebounds, and three assists while shooting an impressive 60/50/100. Additionally, Maxey took part in the KIA Skills Challenge alongside Scottie Barnes and Trae Young on Team All-Stars, just missing victory as they were edged out by Team Pacers.
Coming Back from the All-Star Break
The 76ers host back-to-back games against the Knicks and a rematch against the Cavaliers, respectively. These games prove to be crucial down the line for playoff implications and one of these teams could end up being a playoff opponent to the Sixers. Currently, the Knicks hold just a half game over Philadelphia’s record, but that is the sole difference between hosting a playoff series in round one. On the other hand, the Cavs are 4.5 games up on the 76ers, but there is plenty of season yet to be played. Nick Nurse and his squad must capitalize on this week’s games, along with the rest, out of necessity.
