Tyrese Maxey Scores Career-High 51 Points in 76ers' Win over Jazz

Philadelphia's Rising Star Shines Bright in Absence of Joel Embiid

Maxey's Performance Earns Recognition as First-Time All-Star

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (AP) - Tyrese Maxey exploded for a career-high 51 points on Thursday night, leading the Philadelphia 76ers to a 127-124 victory over the Utah Jazz.

Maxey's performance came just hours after he was named to his first All-Star Game as an injury replacement. Embiid, the 76ers' star center, missed the game due to an undisclosed illness.

Maxey took full advantage of Embiid's absence, scoring 20 of his points in the first half and adding 12 assists and 7 rebounds. The 22-year-old point guard shot 19-of-31 from the field, including 6-of-10 from three-point range.

Maxey's teammates praised his performance, with James Harden saying, "He was phenomenal. ... He's a special player. He's going to be a star for a long time."

With the win, the 76ers improved to 34-20 and remain in first place in the Eastern Conference. Maxey's 51-point performance is the highest by a 76ers player since Joel Embiid scored 59 against the Orlando Magic in November 2021.