Tyrese Maxey carried the Philadelphia 76ers on his shoulders in Game 2 against the New York Knicks. Yet as the minutes piled up, questions emerged about whether fatigue or a finger injury slowed him down in the second half. The guard himself provided the answer after the final buzzer. Yankee Scores reports.
Maxey’s Heavy Workload
With Joel Embiid sidelined, Maxey logged nearly 47 minutes and scored 26 points in the 108‑102 loss at Madison Square Garden. He exploded early, dropping 15 points in the second quarter and 19 before halftime. But after the break, his production dipped, leaving fans wondering what changed.
Finger Injury Revealed
Speaking postgame, Maxey admitted he jammed his finger in the second quarter. “I didn’t feel confident dribbling around the traps like I normally do, or splitting them,” he explained. “I was trying to get off the ball and trying to create actions.” The injury clearly impacted his rhythm, as he committed six turnovers and managed just five points in the fourth quarter.
Tyrese Maxey says he jammed his finger in the second quarter of tonight’s game pic.twitter.com/Vhvfz8H2lg
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 7, 2026
Confidence and Decision‑Making
Maxey acknowledged the setback affected his poise against New York’s defense. “They can put two on the ball, I’m fine with that, but I got to get more comfortable making the read,” he said. “I turned the ball over way, way, way too much tonight, especially out of the traps. I got to do a better job staying poised.”
What’s Next for the Sixers
Despite the injury, Maxey remains Philadelphia’s primary option as the series shifts to Games 3 and 4 at home. With the Sixers trailing 2‑0, his ability to bounce back will be crucial, especially if Embiid’s status remains uncertain. Game 3 tips off Friday at 7 p.m. ET in Philadelphia.
