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Tyrese Maxey emphasized the razor-thin margins of playoff basketball after the Philadelphia 76ers fell 108-100 to the Boston Celtics in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference first-round series.
“Turnover leads to a basket. Offensive rebound leads to a three. It’s like every time. Every single time,” Maxey said, breaking down how small mistakes shifted momentum.
The Sixers guard pointed to consistency on defense but noted how quickly possessions can swing in Boston’s favor.
“We are doing a hell of a job defensively guarding them. Hell of a job in the half court,” Maxey said. “But it’s like offensive rebound, three ball, turnover, three ball or layup.”
Maxey described playoff basketball as a game decided by discipline rather than volume scoring runs.
“You got to be sharp. Extremely sharp in the playoffs. You’re seeing it,” he said.
Philadelphia struggled to close possessions, allowing Boston to capitalize on second chances and perimeter opportunities, including 20 made three-pointers.
Maxey said those sequences reflect the difference between winning and losing in tight postseason games.
“We were in a position to win this game,” he said. “It’s little stuff like that where you just can’t have it. That’s a hell of a basketball team over there.”
Boston’s ability to convert mistakes into points proved decisive, particularly late in the fourth quarter when Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown controlled the closing stretch.
Maxey also highlighted specific breakdowns that altered momentum, including avoidable fouls and turnovers.
“It just can’t happen. No matter what the scenario is, it just can’t happen,” he said. “You can’t give up a layup on the other end.”
One moment he pointed to involved a late-clock defensive breakdown on Tatum.
“Shot clock was running down, Tatum lost the ball… he was about to have to shoot a leaning fade away from 35 feet and Bona fouled him,” Maxey said. “There’s no need to foul him right there.”
The All-Star guard also referenced his own mistake leading directly to a Boston scoring opportunity.
“Even my turnover to Paul George, it just can’t happen,” he said.
Despite the loss, Maxey said the Sixers are treating the series as a possession-by-possession battle heading into Game 4.
“Somebody got to be up 2-1. This is a really close 2-1 series,” Maxey said. “Could have gone either way. But it’s fine. We’ll come back Sunday and try to get a win.”
Maxey also addressed rookie VJ Edgecombe, reinforcing an aggressive mindset regardless of shooting struggles.
“Never second guess. You’re open, shoot the ball,” Maxey said. “If you’re open, you shoot the next one.”
He added that playoff shooting slumps are part of the adjustment process.
“The game is not going to be easy. You don’t worry about all the percentages and all that,” Maxey said. “You just got to shoot the next one.”
With the series now shifting back to Philadelphia for Game 4, Maxey stressed urgency without overreaction.
“You always focus on what you could do better,” he said. “Watch the film tonight and tomorrow. Get better at it and come in Sunday. Got to get one. Got to protect home court and even the series.”
Boston now leads the series 2-1, with Game 4 set to further test both execution and composure on the margins.
