Sixers’ Tyrese Maxey will sit out game in Atlanta with an illness
Maxey will miss his second straight game. He is the league’s third-leading scorer at 31.5 points per game.
ATLANTA — Tyrese Maxey will miss his second consecutive game with an illness when the 76ers face the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday night at State Farm Arena.
The standout point guard had been listed as doubtful on Saturday’s injury report. Center Joel Embiid (left knee injury management) was cleared to play after being listed as questionable.
“We’re super concerned,” Sixers coach Nick Nurse said of Maxey’s illness. “We’re concerned because he’s sick, and he wasn’t well enough to get on the floor here for a couple of games. After Friday’s game, we thought he’d be at the plane to come with us but didn’t make it. I talked to him last night, and he said he’d see me at practice Tuesday. I said, ‘I’m not sure we’re practicing Tuesday, but I’ll be there. Me and you, man. I’ll see you there.’
“It’s been a bit, but yeah. It is concerning, but, again, he’s improving. Hopefully, it’ll get him to where he’s good enough to get back in action.”
The Sixers (14-10) will be at a disadvantage against the Hawks (14-12). The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Maxey is the league’s third-leading scorer at 31.5 points per game. He’s also fourth in three-pointers made (84) and ninth in assists per game (7.2).
Maxey finished with a career-high 54 points along with nine assists, five rebounds, three steals, and three blocks in the Sixers’ 123-114 overtime road victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Nov. 20.
Those 54 points tied Hall of Famer Allen Iverson for ninth in a regular-season game in team history. Iverson did it twice, on Dec. 18, 2004, and Jan. 6, 2001.
Maxey joined Hall of Famer Wilt Chamberlain (March 18, 1968) as the only two players in franchise history to produce at least 50 points and nine assists in a game.
The Sixers also will be without Kelly Oubre Jr. (left knee ligament sprain) and Trendon Watford (left thigh strain). The Hawks are without Trae Young (right knee ligament sprain), Jacob Toppin (right shoulder surgery), Kristaps Porziņģis (illness), and N’Faly Dante (concussion protocol). Nickeil Alexander-Walker (right lateral ankle sprain) is questionable.