Tyrese Maxey delivered the biggest night of his NBA career, exploding for 54 points to carry the Philadelphia 76ers to a 123-114 overtime win over the Milwaukee Bucks on November 20 in Milwaukee. He tied the game with two free throws with seven seconds left in regulation, then kept attacking in OT as the 76ers closed it out without Joel Embiid.
Maxeyâs 54 topped his previous career best of 52, set in double overtime against the San Antonio Spurs in April 2024. He added nine assists and logged more than 46 minutes one night after a heavy workload in a loss to the Toronto Raptors.
The performance came with a quad contusion that had him on the injury report before tipoff, turning the game into a full-on superstar showcase. Every time Milwaukee threatened to pull away, Maxey answered â with deep threes, floaters from awkward angles and fearless drives into traffic.
Inside Maxeyâs 54-Point Night vs. Bucks
Philadelphia looked ready to run away early, jumping out to a 33-20 lead after the first quarter behind a hot start from Paul George, who scored 11 quick points and finished with 21.
Milwaukee punched back with a big second quarter, mixing in zone defense that stalled the 76ersâ other shooters. When the Bucks sat in that 2-3, Maxey was often the only Sixer who could crack it, drilling pull-up threes â including one from the logo â and attacking gaps when everyone else went cold.
The Bucks rallied from a 94-87 deficit to grab the lead on a Myles Turner 3-pointer with 14.8 seconds left. Maxey, who had just committed a pair of late turnovers, shook it off, drove into the lane and drew the foul that set up his game-tying free throws with seven seconds left. Ryan Rollinsâ 3-point try at the buzzer missed, sending the game to overtime.
In OT, rookie Justin Edwards â ice cold most of the night â opened with a 3-pointer, and Maxey quickly followed with a layup to give the 76ers control. Milwaukee trimmed the lead to one before Quentin Grimes buried a huge 3 that the Bucks never recovered from.Maxey didnât do it alone. Georgeâs efficient 21-point outing steadied the offense, while VJ Edgecombe supplied energy and a 12-point, 10-rebound double-double. Grimes added 14 points off the bench. For Milwaukee, Rollins matched a career high with 32 points and dished 14 assists, with Bobby Portis (19 points) and Kyle Kuzma (17) chipping in.
What Maxeyâs Career Night Means for the 76ers
Maxey was already building an early-season case as the 76ersâ new franchise pillar. He came into the night leading the league in minutes and recently picked up Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors. This 54-point statement, on the road and on the second night of a back-to-back, is the clearest sign yet that he can carry an offense built around him.
It also matters how he did it. Maxey controlled pace, directed traffic, and kept talking and pushing his teammates into late-game transition opportunities, even past the 40-minute mark. Thatâs the kind of command that usually belongs to established MVP candidates, not a 25-year-old guard still adding layers to his game.
For Philadelphia, the win moves them back above .500 and reinforces that they can survive stretches without Embiid, who missed his sixth straight game with a right knee issue. For Milwaukee, itâs a fourth loss in five games as they navigate life without Giannis Antetokounmpo, sidelined by a left adductor strain.
The 76ers now return home to host the Miami Heat on Sunday, with Maxey riding the best game of his career and his name all over the early-season MVP conversation.
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