Tyrese Maxey leads 76ers with 27 points vs. NYK

After scoring at least 26 points in his first eight games, Maxey hit a rough patch in the two prior to Sunday, totaling 36 points on 10-of-31 shooting. He got back on track in Chicago, shooting high percentages from the field and the foul line while also dishing out seven assists. Maxey didn’t record any defensive stats against the Bulls, but it mattered more that he got back into an offensive groove.

This wasn’t Maxey’s best night: he attempted five shots in the first half and shot 33.3 percent from the field. His assist production was decent but didn’t reach his season average (5.3), much to the chagrin of fantasy managers rostering the star guard. The good news for Maxey managers is that the 76ers play the Bulls on Sunday, and that should be an excellent matchup for him, given Chicago’s porous defense.

On this revamped 76ers team, Maxey hasn’t done as much playmaking as he has in recent years. However, he played the facilitator role well in this game, shattering his previous season high for assists of six on his way to his first double-double of the season. Maxey has been a superstar once again this season, and while his dimes have been down, his scoring and field goal percentage have both been up. The dimes likely won’t continue to this level, but he can still chip in from time to time.

With LeBron James and Joel Embiid out, Maxey put on a show in Charlotte. The 76ers’ point guard finished with a season-high point total, recording his second 30-point line of the season. Maxey was at his best when the Sixers needed him most, scoring 15 points in the fourth quarter. The 76ers play four games next week without a back-to-back, starting on Monday against the Bulls.

Jaylen Brown (knee) is out tonight, so Dean Wade will take his spot in the starting lineup. Even if heavy minutes, Dean Wade is not a fantasy add unless it’s in deeper leagues. With one less high usage guy in the starting lineup, LeBron and VJ might get a bump in production tonight.

It was a bad night for Maxey’s standards up until he took over in the fourth quarter and carried the 76ers to a win with 17 fourth quarter points. He wasn’t taking many shots during most of the game until he started to get going, which is great if you own him as a fantasy manager. He’s established himself as the best player on the team and any worries about Maxey’s production going down should subside.

Maxey and the 76ers were playing their third game in four days. With LeBron James (Saturday) and Joel Embiid (Sunday) each missing a game, the 76ers’ star point guard had to shoulder a heavier workload. Despite that, Maxey still recorded an efficient stat line to end Week 1. There was an injury scare when he collided with Detroit’s John Collins in the fourth quarter, but Maxey was fine. Philadelphia plays three games in Week 2, starting with the Pacers on Wednesday.

Maxey finished the first and third quarters of Saturday’s win with buzzer-beaters, with one being a half-court shot. The 76ers’ point guard has scored at least 26 points in all three games this season, attempting 19 shots or more in each. Neither Maxey’s usage nor his production has suffered so far, and he’s especially well-positioned to feast in back-to-backs. LeBron James sat out Saturday’s game, and Joel Embiid won’t play on Sunday against the Pistons, which should be good news for those rostering Maxey.

The 76ers pulled off one of the biggest comebacks in franchise history on Thursday, rallying from a 29-point deficit to win 114-106 in their home opener. Maxey was Philadelphia’s most consistent offensive player, and his defense on James Harden also played a role. Harden scored 10 points in the second half but also recorded more turnovers (four) than assists (two). If the first two games indicate what’s to come, Maxey will be the 76ers’ first offensive option. Given his first-round ADP, that’s great news for fantasy managers.

Even with all the roster changes, this is still going to be Maxey’s team. While spoiling the Knicks’ ring night, he was assertive on both ends of the floor and truly stuffed the stat sheet. Having more playmaking and scoring threats around him will only make things easier on him, and it’s clear he’s not going to have to sacrifice much volume. Those who took Maxey at the end of the first round in fantasy drafts may end up reaping some major rewards.