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Tyrese Maxey delivered a composed playoff performance in Boston as the Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Celtics 111-97 on Tuesday night to tie the series 1-1 at TD Garden. The guard finished with 29 points and nine assists in a game defined by late-game execution.
Maxey described the turning point in the fourth quarter with confidence in the moment. “All right, it’s my time to close the game out,” he said, explaining the mindset after Boston trimmed the lead. He added that communication from teammates helped shape the approach, noting, “Trend just told me, ‘Hey, get Paul going early in the fourth and you just close the game out.’”
The 76ers guard emphasized structure and shot distribution as part of his role. “That was kind of like my job tonight is just be a floor manager sometimes,” Maxey said. “I need to be at around 9, 10, 11 assists a game in this series.”
Maxey also explained how Philadelphia adjusted after a Game 1 loss, focusing on defensive reads and passing angles. “I just looked at the way they guarded me and had to change some things,” he said. “How I could get shots, how I could get my teammate shots.”
The star guard credited feedback from teammates as a key factor in his aggression. “Kyle and Trendon really got on me last game,” Maxey said. “They was like, ‘You got to shoot the ball. Shoot the ball.’”
He also pointed to V.J. Edgecombe’s breakout 30-point, 10-rebound performance as a major swing factor. “He hooped, man. He hooped,” Maxey said. “Whenever they on the nail and I can swing it to you, you shoot it. I don’t care what the outcome is.”
Philadelphia’s response to Game 1’s 32-point defeat was a focal point for Maxey, who downplayed the margin and stressed perspective. “Every loss in the playoffs sucks,” he said. “But it’s just one game though. It’s just one game.”
He also detailed a key run in the second half when Philadelphia regained control. “We made some plays, got some steals,” Maxey said. “We were right back in the game and we did a really good job with that.”
Defensively, Maxey highlighted increased physicality and effort after criticism from the opener. “We just stuck to our principles,” he said. “Played harder, played more aggressive, played more physical, played a playoff basketball game.”
The series now shifts to Philadelphia for Game 3, where Maxey’s balance between scoring and playmaking will again be central to the 76ers’ approach.
