Tyrese Maxey’s breakout 45 point performance on the road and what to expect moving forward

Tyrese Maxey bounced back in a big way for the 76ers, dropping a season-high 45 points to secure Philly’s first win of the season.

After shooting just 29.6% from the field in the first two games, Tyrese Maxey exploded in Game 3, leading the Sixers to a much-needed victory. But what can we expect from him moving forward? Let’s start with what Maxey has done over the 76ers’ first few games this year.

Tyrese Maxey This Season:

• 31.3 PPG
• 4.0 RPG
• 3.7 APG
• 1 SPG
• 1 BPG

The Sixers are 1-2 after three games, with Tyrese Maxey putting up a career-high 31.3 points per game. He’s also attempting a whopping 28.7 shots per game—by far a career-high.

But with that workload has come inefficiency, as his 47.2% true shooting is well below his norm and sits 9.5% under the league average.

Let’s be fair here— Tyrese Maxey has been forced to shoulder almost the entire offensive load for the Sixers.

Joel Embiid and Paul George have yet to suit up this season, leaving Maxey to face the best defenders and most complex coverages every night.

Opponents have focused on getting the ball out of his hands, often blitzing him off the pick-and-roll and packing the paint when he drives. But the most effective strategy so far has been drop coverage, with big men like Brook Lopez, Jakob Poeltl, and Myles Turner anchoring the rim and daring Maxey to beat them from mid-range.

It seemed during the Sixers' first two games that Tyrese Maxey was missing short on quite a few shots. It turns out, it was even more than I realized: pic.twitter.com/83JuqlxeDR

— Adam Aaronson's clips (@SixersAdamClips) October 26, 2024

Maxey’s mid-range game remains a work in progress. He’s tried to add it to his arsenal, but with limited success, often settling for contested, off-the-dribble jumpers. Without Embiid and George to relieve some of the pressure, Maxey has struggled to be the primary offensive option and seems to be pressing to make plays.

He’s still figuring out when to attack and when to slow things down, but it’s clear he’s trying to do too much at times. As much as he’s needed to take over offensively, Maxey has to be more willing to facilitate and find open teammates when defenses collapse.

The good news? Maxey hasn’t backed down from the challenge. Even when the shots weren’t falling, he stayed aggressive, and that mindset paid off in the second half of his 45-point performance.

Tyrese Maxey: 45 PTS | 4 AST | 4 REB | 2 BLK | 1 STL

45 PTS | 4 AST | 4 REB | 2 BLK | 1 STL

.@TyreseMaxey balled out today. 🏀@PALottery pic.twitter.com/MvskaOHBQy

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) October 27, 2024

Key Takeaways: Philadelphia 76ers defeat Indiana Pacers 118-114 in first win of season

With Embiid and George expected back as soon as Wednesday against the Detroit Pistons, Maxey will have more help and should be able to thrive in a more balanced role—one that allows him to play off the ball and attack without carrying the full offensive burden.

Tyrese Maxey ERUPTS for 45 points to give the @sixers their first win of the season! 🔔 pic.twitter.com/vo5tjeu9m5

— NBA (@NBA) October 27, 2024

The Sixers have a chance to get back to .500 on Wednesday against the Pistons, and whether or not Maxey has support, you can bet he’ll bring the same aggressiveness that fueled Philly’s first win. If it’s Maxey against the world again, don’t expect him to shy away from the spotlight.

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