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Tyrese Maxey furthers MVP case with career game in 76ers' win
Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey. Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

Tyrese Maxey furthers MVP case with 54-point explosion in 76ers' big win over Bucks

Budding star Tyrese Maxey posted a performance for the ages, leading the Philadelphia 76ers to an overtime win in Milwaukee on Thursday night. 

Maxey scored a career-high 54 points out of Philadelphia's total. The 76ers beat the Bucks, 123-114. Philadelphia's 25-year-old former first-round pick (2020) brought an efficiency to his big night. 

Maxey shot 60% from the field, connecting on 18-of-30 and then 40% from three, going 6-of-15. 

He also added five rebounds and nine assists while playing 47 minutes, a significantly larger workload than any other player on his team. Only three other members of the 76ers exceeded 30 minutes played.

Among one of the NBA's top scorers so far during the 2025-26 season, Maxey entered the game averaging 31.9 points, 4.7 boards and 7.8 assists through 14 games. Those averages will increase after his play on Thursday, too. 

Maxey has now reached at least 40 points three times and recorded at least 30 nine times. Maxey's previous season-high was 43 back on Oct. 27 against the Orlando Magic. Now in his sixth season out of Kentucky, Maxey is on pace for not only a career-year, but also one that has him firmly in the MVP conversation. 

Besides Maxey, the 76ers' next leading scorer was Paul George with 21 in just 25 minutes. 

With the win, the 76ers are now 9-6 and in playoff position as the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference. Up next, Maxey and Philadelphia will head home to take on the Miami Heat on Sunday. Tip-off between the 76ers and Heat is set for 1 p.m. ET. 

Mike J. Asti

Mike Asti is an experienced media personality and journalist with a vast resume and skillset, most notably from time with TribLIVE Radio and WPXI-TV. Asti now serves as the Managing Editor of WV Sports Now, where he leads the coverage of WVU sports. He has also covered the Steelers, Penguins, Pirates and other teams within the Pittsburgh market

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