Tyrese Maxey explains what was different for him after Sixers beat Magic
ORLANDO, Fla. — The Philadelphia 76ers were able to bounce back in a big way on Wednesday when they knocked off the Orlando Magic by a score of 112-92. It was a performance that was needed following the tough Christmas Day loss to the Miami Heat and it was their first win without Joel Embiid on the season.
The Sixers were able to bounce back thanks to Tyrese Maxey. After an absolutely miserable 4-for-20 shooting performance in the loss to the Heat, Maxey bounced back for 23 points and he knocked down three triples on six attempts on the night.
What was the difference for Maxey against the Magic that didn’t work against the Heat? The ball simply went through the net in this one.
“Yeah. They went in,” Maxey smiled after the win. “I got in foul trouble early so when I came out, I knew I was going back in to be aggressive in the second quarter, but honestly, I didn’t do anything different. They trapped me more tonight than they did the last game so just staying aggressive.”
The Magic didn’t have much of an answer for him and he exploited them with his speed. He wasn’t shot hunting, but he was just playing his game and didn’t force any bad shots or anything of that nature.
“I let the game come to me I think a little bit more tonight (Wednesday), though,” Maxey continued. “I didn’t try to go out there and be ultra, ultra-aggressive from the beginning. I let it come to me and shots fell. The same shots I’ve been making all year.”
The game of basketball can be really simple. It can be a make-or-miss league. Sometimes shots fall and sometimes they don’t.
“I thought he made some drives through some hits,” added coach Nick Nurse. “I thought he made a few layups and, I don’t know, the ball went in. I hate to kind of make it that simple. He made a few shots tonight. I thought he did a good job of leading in the game. Obviously, they were blitzing him early and we tried to figure out a way to not get him blitzed as much tonight as well.”
Maxey has always been a confident player. He knows what he brings to the table and no matter what’s going on around him, he just wants to focus on playing basketball the right way. He did so in a big way on Wednesday.
“Honestly, it happens,” Maxey finished. “Every shot that I shot against Miami, I thought was going in to be completely honest with you. So it happens. It was great. I felt good. It’s in the rearview mirror now. I just wish we could’ve won it, but it happens.”
