The 76ers got a scare with Tyrese Maxey, but for now they appear to have dodged the kind of injury problem they can’t afford.
After Philadelphia’s win over Detroit, Maxey said his finger is fine following a late collision in the game against the Pistons that left him clutching his hand in pain. The All-Star guard didn’t sound alarmed, and at the moment he is not listed on the injury report.
That’s the good news. The part the 76ers can’t ignore is Maxey’s history.
Finger issues have followed him at the end of each of the last two seasons. Last year, he missed nearly two weeks because of one, and it was still bothering him when the playoffs arrived. That’s why this latest bump matters even if it doesn’t look serious right now.
Maxey has been carrying a huge load offensively for Philadelphia, leading the team with 28 points per game. Jaylen Brown is second on the roster at 21.8 points per outing, and the gap underscores just how much the 76ers rely on Maxey to keep the offense moving.
That reliance matters even more because Philadelphia’s offense is ranked 20th as of writing. With the team off to a strong 8-1 start, it can’t afford to lose its top scorer for any stretch.
So while this doesn’t appear to be a situation that will keep Maxey out of games, the 76ers still need to treat it carefully. The season is still young, and they have to be ready in case the finger becomes an issue again.
Injuries were already a concern around the roster before the season began, and Maxey’s track record with this particular problem gives Philadelphia another thing to monitor closely. For now, though, the early indication is that he avoided a major setback.
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