Tyrese Maxey returned to the Sixers’ practice gym with a towel draped over his head, his voice a fraction softer than usual, yet he was still grateful to be back on the court.
He was asked how he was feeling after missing the team’s past two games with a significant illness, and he replied, “Better,” adding, “Way better.”
While Maxey was absent, the Sixers played two close games. They beat the Pacers and fell to the Hawks, moving to a 14-11 overall record.
Coach Nick Nurse expressed relief that the team handled the situation, saying, “My fears were really high going into those games, but I thought we handled it very, very well.” He added, “I thought we played pretty good basketball. We obviously miss all that he brings, but I thought especially VJ (Edgecombe) did a great job of running the point and running the team.”
Nurse also acknowledged that Maxey isn’t back at full strength yet. He noted, “He looked like he’s been off for a little bit. It’s been a good chunk of time. He was in yesterday getting some individual work in. Today was some team work. He looked like he needs it.”
The Sixers’ next outing is Friday night against the 18-7 Knicks, who just beat the Spurs to win the 2025 NBA Cup.
Maxey was cheering and tweeting from the sidelines while sidelined. He praised Joel Embiid’s 39‑point performance against the Pacers and Paul George’s 35‑point night in Atlanta.
When asked about the team’s mindset, Maxey said, “We competed. … I just want us to go out there and compete every single night. I don’t want it to look like, ‘Oh, this guy’s out, that guy’s out, so we’re just going to lay down and other teams are going to beat us.’”
He added, “I think we’ve kind of created that standard and done a good job with it. It’s coming to light and we’ve got to keep doing it.”
Maxey described himself as a fan at the end of the day. He said, “The more I yelled and screamed, the more I got tired. I couldn’t stand up, really, so I’m basically just sitting there, watching the game and throwing my arms up. I’m a fan at the end of the day, man. I want us to win.”
While Maxey was back in the practice mix, Kelly Oubre Jr. (left knee LCL sprain) and Trendon Watford (left adductor strain) were still out. A Sixers official said both players have progressed to individual on‑court workouts.
Watford believes he’s close, but he said he doesn’t have a return timeline in mind. He told reporters, “Nah, not really. Just taking it one day at a time. I know that I’m getting better and feeling better every day. That’s the biggest thing for me, just continuing to attack my rehab. I’m feeling good and building day by day.”
The team’s roster remains in flux as players work through injuries, but the coaching staff remains optimistic about Maxey’s gradual return.
Key Takeaways
- Maxey returned to practice after a two‑game illness, still feeling better but not yet at full strength.
- The Sixers finished 14‑11 after beating the Pacers and losing to the Hawks in his absence.
- Coach Nick Nurse praised VJ Edgecombe’s playmaking and acknowledged Maxey’s ongoing recovery.
The Sixers look to the upcoming game against the Knicks as a chance to test their resilience and keep building momentum toward the playoffs.
