PHILADELPHIA — Tyrese Maxey sat at his locker and held a piece of paper with 51 scrawled on it — a fun nod to Wilt Chamberlain’s classic “ 100 ” photo — in honor of the performance of his career.
Scratch that.
Try, the day of his career.
Perhaps 2020 NBA draft night might have been the only Maxey milestone to top the 23-year-old guard’s landmarks Thursday in Utah. The Philadelphia 76ers player learned hours before tipoff against the Jazz he was a first-time NBA All-Star.
Good enough, for most. For Maxey?
With NBA MVP Joel Embiid sidelined by a knee injury, Maxey hit seven 3-pointers and dropped a career-best 51 points to lead the Sixers to their only win on a 1-4 road trip.
Yes, the Sixers are Embiid’s team, and they’ll only go as far as the oft-injured center can take them on one or two gimpy legs. Maxey’s breakout season means at least the Sixers can try to stay afloat among the top teams in the East in Embiid’s absence.
Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey looks on during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz, Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024, in Salt Lake City. Credit: AP/Rick Bowmer
“It was a big jump-up year for him,” coach Nick Nurse said. “I always keep saying, the exciting thing is, I think he’s got a long way to go to reach his ceiling yet.”
For a night, at least, Maxey reached the top.
The 76ers lumbered through a brutal first four games of the trip, losing Embiid to an injured lateral meniscus in his left knee all while Maxey sat out three games because of a sprained left ankle.
Healthy enough against the Jazz, Maxey went wild and topped his previous career high of 50 — set Nov. 12 at home against Indiana.
Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (0) goes to the basket as Utah Jazz forward John Collins (20) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024, in Salt Lake City. Credit: AP/Rick Bowmer
Some notables from the game.
— He was 17 of 27 from the field, 7 of 9 on 3s and made 10 of…
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