Maxey is the soul of the new Sixers: “We know how to respond”
Tyrese Maxey fires up his teammates in the locker room as Philadelphia rallies from 29 points down against Cleveland. A win that makes Sixers history
From halftime boos to cheers at the final buzzer. The Philadelphia 76ers pull off an incredible comeback, erasing a 29-point deficit to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 114-106. Leading the way is Tyrese Maxey, who finishes with 32 points and 6 assists.
It’s the Sixers’ largest comeback in the play-by-play era, as well as the biggest of LeBron James’ career. For Cleveland, meanwhile, it’s the largest lead surrendered over that same statistical span.
And to think Philadelphia trailed 69-45 at halftime after a disastrous first half that included 15 turnovers. In the locker room, though, Maxey decided to challenge his teammates with a very simple question.
I said, “It’s time to see what we’re made of. Are we only good when everything’s going right? Or, when things go wrong, can we fight and respond?” And we did
Tyrese Maxey
The turnaround also came thanks to Nick Nurse’s defensive adjustments and an entirely different approach to taking care of the ball than in the first two quarters. Philadelphia began chipping away, possession by possession, until it flipped a game that had seemed beyond saving.
No disrespect to anyone who’s been here, but in the past, a lot of guys would have given up and moved on to the next game. This time was different
Joel Embiid
LeBron James also appreciated the Sixers’ response, while noting that they would be better off avoiding having to play catch-up so often.
It’s good to know we don’t have any quit in us. But you don’t want to find yourself in those situations too often
LeBron James
Meanwhile, the crowd at Wells Fargo Center also changed its tune completely: from halftime boos to deafening cheers, fueling a comeback that Philadelphia fans will remember for years to come.