It has been a frustrating season for Tyrese Maxey and the Philadelphia 76ers organization. But, the NBA grind waits for no one and the team will continue attempting to dig out of the massive hole they have created for themselves.
It will be a difficult task tonight as the Sixers prepare to take on the Cavaliers. Cleveland has held the best record in the NBA from start to finish this season and will be looking to bounce back from a rare loss the last time they were on the floor. In contrast, the Sixers have dropped to 15-27 and enter this game on a seven-game losing skid.
Tyrese Maxey has taken a step back from an efficiency standpoint this season. The former All-Star guard is still averaging 26.4 points, 5.9 assists, and 3.5 rebounds but is shooting just 42.7% from the field and 33.3% on three-point attempts. With Joel Embiid remaining sidelined due to knee issues, Maxey will remain the primary offensive weapon for the Sixers as they attempt to take down the league-leading Cavaliers tonight.
The Cavaliers enter this game as 10.5-point favorites and -535 on the Moneyline. The 76ers hold +400 odds on the Moneyline on DraftKings Sportsbook. The game total is set at 229.
Here are my favorite Tyrese Maxey prop bets for the Friday night matchup.
Best Tyrese Maxey Prop Bets on DraftKings Sportsbook
Maxey’s props are listed at over/under 28.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 3.5 made three-pointers and 38.5 combined points, rebounds and assists.
Tyrese Maxey Over 3.5 Made Three-Pointers (+110)
It has been a tough season for Tyrese Maxey shooting splits. His 42.7% average from the field is the lowest mark of his career and his 33.3% beyond the three-point arc is ahead of only his rookie season. Since that first year in which he shot 30.1% from the perimeter, Maxey has produced three-point percentages of 42.7%, 43.4%, and 37.3%. He ranked in the top five in the NBA in two of these seasons.
There is still an incredible opportunity for shots for the young guard. He is attempting a career-high 9.6 three-point attempts per game which is the sixth-most in the entire NBA. He is averaging 3.2 made three-pointers per game and still has knocked down at least four three-pointers in 12 of the 35 games he has played.
While the Cavaliers play a defensive-minded brand of basketball, they rank 23rd in opponents’ three-point percentage allowed. Neither Donovan Mitchell nor Darius Garland are known as defensive stalwarts and most of their defensive success is built around funneling ball handlers to the paint where Evan Mobley and Jarret Allen protect the rim. This is especially problematic as Mobley will continue to be sidelined with a calf injury which changes the roles of each member of the defense.
While the frustration has been visible from Maxey on the floor, he and the team have no choice but to continue shooting through it. He has attempted 14 or more three-pointers in three of the past eight games and will continue to have the ultimate green light in the offense. It may not be the prettiest path to getting there, but look for Maxey to go down swinging and continue to let it fly from deep. He shot 6-for-15 in Saturday’s loss to the Bucks, so expect a similar effort against the Cavaliers tonight. He is a better shooter than the numbers have shown on the season and has free reign to fire as much as he wants. Look for him to knock down at least four three-pointers tonight and capitalize on the +110 odds.
Tyrese Maxey Over 6.5 Assists (+120)
Another area where Tyrese Maxey has struggled this season is finding the balance between being a playmaker and a scorer. This is an art that only the top floor generals have mastered and Maxey has a ways to go in this category.
Even still, the 24-year-old ranks fifth in the entire NBA in individual time of possession by holding the ball for 7.6 minutes per game. He trails only Jalen Brunson, Cade Cunningham, Trae Young, and Damian Lillard in this category.
Philadelphia attempted to free Maxey up in more of a score-first mindset by pairing him in the backcourt with both Kyle Lowry and Jared McCain. Unfortunately, both remain on the injury report and will continue to miss time. Maxey continues to be forced into the decision-making role within the offense and is averaging 5.9 assists per game on the season. He has recorded over 6.5 assists in 12 of the 35 games he has played this year.
Maxey is coming off back-to-back games with over 6.5 assists and has reached 10+ assists in three of the past eight games. The Sixers have limited offensive options due to all the injuries and it should not be a surprise if Cleveland begins to trap or double-team Maxey. His speed is the great equalizer in this equation, but look for him to be forced into more of a playmaking role tonight. The +120 odds indicate it is a risk, but expect Maxey to see plenty of double team on the offensive end for him to have success as a passer against this Cavaliers team.
