Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey. Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

76ers star Tyrese Maxey furthers MVP case, scores game-winner to cap off 40-point night

By Mike J. Asti | Last updated Jan 29, 2026 11:34 PM ET

Tyrese Maxey continues to make his case for NBA MVP consideration, putting up one of his best performances of the season on Thursday night.

Maxey put on his proverbial cape and saved the day, balling out all night long and then hitting the game-winning shot in the final seconds as the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Sacramento Kings, 113-111.

Maxey scored exactly 40 points on the night, but none bigger than when he drove the lane and sunk a basket with just a tick over one second left on the game clock. Maxey's basket broke a 111-111 tie and handed Philadelphia back-to-back victories as they also avoided being upset by the lowly Kings.

Tyrese Maxey was at his best against the Kings

Maxey's 40 points came in 41 minutes of action and while shooting a staggering 66.7% from the field. He went 12-of-18 from the field and 4-of-9 from long range. Thursday marked the fifth time Maxey reached at least 40 points in a game this season and first since recording 44 in a double-overtime loss to the Atlanta Hawks back on Nov. 30.

HE'S LITERALLY TYRESE MAXEY! https://t.co/nlkbTWphb8 pic.twitter.com/YM3GUUcwcY
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) January 30, 2026

After only scoring six points in a blowout loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Monday, Maxey responded by scoring 22 in a win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday and then followed that up by dominating Sacramento.

Tyrese Maxey is in the midst of a career-best season

Maxey's 2025-26 season has been a career-year for the 76ers' first-round pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. To this point, he's surpassed his scoring average of 26.3 points per game on 43.7% shooting from last season.

Through 45 games played, Maxey, 25, is averaging 29.4 points, 6.9 assists and 4.2 rebounds while registering a 47.3% clip from the field and 38.7% from three.

And regardless if Maxey earns any MVP votes, he's already received the recognition of being named an All-Star starter for the first time in his six-year career.

And Philadelphia has needed every bit of Maxey's emergence. At 26-21, the 76ers are sixth in the Eastern Conference, two games behind the Cleveland Cavaliers for the five seed.

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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