76ers Rumors: Tyrese Maxey to Return vs. Knicks After Clearing Concussion Protocol
March 11, 2024
The Philadelphia 76ers received some positive injury news on Monday.
According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Sixers point guard Tyrese Maxey is set to return to the lineup in Tuesday's game against the New York Knicks after clearing concussion protocol, which caused him to miss the previous four games.
Maxey suffered the concussion during Philadelphia's win over the Dallas Mavericks last Sunday when he hit his head on the knee of Derrick Jones Jr. He continued playing in the game, but head coach Nick Nurse announced two days later that the 23-year-old had a "delayed and mild" concussion.
An All-Star selection this season for the first time in his four-year career, Maxey is one of the best young guards in the NBA. He's averaging career highs of 26.0 points, 6.3 assists and 3.7 rebounds this year and has been a source of consistency during an up-and-down season in Philadelphia.
The shorthanded Sixers lost three out of four games during Maxey's absence, most recently defeating the Knicks 79-73 on Sunday to improve to 36-28. Philadelphia has also been missing reigning MVP Joel Embiid, who is still sidelined following meniscus surgery last month.
The Sixers hold just a half-game lead over the Indiana Pacers for the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference, so they will need to continue to get healthy as the playoff race heats up.
Getting Maxey back on the floor will help improve Philadelphia's chances of avoiding the play-in tournament, but the team will still face an uphill battle in the postseason.
