PHILADELPHIA, PA—Madison Square Garden was Tyrese Maxey's stage, and he stole the show. The young star scored a playoff career-high 46 points, including a clutch flurry in the final seconds of regulation to send the game into overtime. The Sixers ultimately prevailed 112-106, pushing the series back to Philly for a decisive Game 6.
"When the season's on the line, you just gotta find a way," Maxey said after his incredible performance.
This back-and-forth battle featured 16 lead changes and numerous momentum swings. Even a triple-double from Joel Embiid wasn't enough early on, but the big man was full of praise for his teammate: "Tyrese... that's just who he is. But tonight, those circumstances? He HAD to step up, and he did. Why he's such a special player."
This playoff series is a scorer's paradise, with Maxey, Embiid, and the Knicks' Jalen Brunson dominating the stat sheet. But now, the pressure shifts to South Philly for a do-or-die Game 6 on Thursday.
? BIG NEWS: Embiid's knee injury makes him questionable for the crucial matchup. ? Knicks fans, beware! Every missed free throw turns into a free Chick-fil-A for Sixers fans, thanks to the "Bricken for Chicken" promo.
Game 6: TONIGHT, 9 p.m. EDT on NBC Sports Philadelphia/TNT. This is going to be WILD.
