UPDATE: Maxey has now been ruled out following a late-afternoon addition to the injury report.
The Philadelphia 76ers’ disastrous season continues with things going from bad to worse for the organization. Tyrese Maxey has been one of the bright spots throughout the year but is coming off arguably the worst performance of his career after being held to just five points last night against the Toronto Raptors. Maxey and the Sixers will now look to bounce back as they take on the Brooklyn Nets tonight.
Joel Embiid has been ruled out for tonight’s game on the second night of a back-to-back putting more offensive responsibility on Maxey’s plate. On the season overall, he is averaging 27.6 points, 6.1 assists, and 3.5 rebounds per game.
While Brooklyn holds a record of just 19-34 on the season, they are not a team to be taken lightly. They are young and hungry and compete on an every night basis even if it has not shown in their record. The Nets rank eighth in opponents points per game and also allow the fourth-fewest three-point attempts per game which could be especially problematic for Maxey.
The 76ers enter this game as three-point favorites and -148 on the Moneyline. The Nets hold +124 odds on the Moneyline on DraftKings Sportsbook with the game total set at 212.5.
With the stage set, here are my favorite Tyrese Maxey prop bets ahead of the Wednesday night matchup.
Best Tyrese Maxey Prop Bets on DraftKings Sportsbook
Tyrese Maxey’s props are listed at over/under 29.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 3.5 made three-pointers, and 38.5 combined points, rebounds and assists.
Tyrese Maxey Under 29.5 Points (-120)
No player can be at their best every night, but Tyrese Maxey’s performance last night against the Raptors was more than just a toss-away bad game. The former All-Star was held to just five points on 1-for-9 shooting from the field. This marked his fewest points in a game since April 4th, 2023 and he has only been held to five or fewer points four total times across the past four seasons. Nick Nurse spoke to the media following the game and hinted that he is concerned that Maxey is battling something physically. The star guard was quick to wipe away any sort of excuse and is not on the injury report but this is something to monitor.
With Joel Embiid already ruled out, Tyrese Maxey will see more offensive opportunities but also will be at the top of the list of Brooklyn’s defensive priorities. Maxey is averaging 27.6 points per game this season and has been held under 29.5 points in 26 of the 46 games he has played this year. This will be the third matchup between these two teams with Maxey being held to 18 and 26-point scoring outputs in these previous two matchups.
The Sixers will be on the second night of a back-to-back and battling some tired legs while Maxey also ranks second in the NBA in minutes per game- only behind Mikal Bridges. His nine field goal attempts last night marked the only time all season he has attempted less than 12 shots. With tired legs, a youthful opponent, and Maxey potentially battling an injury, I don’t expect a significant scoring output tonight. There is no reason to worry about the Sixers guard in the wider view, especially with some well-earned rest of the All-Star break on the horizon, but count on him being held under 29.5 points tonight.
Tyrese Maxey Over 6.5 Assists (+114)
Even with the concerning scoring output, Maxey deserves credit for his growth as a playmaker. The Kentucky product took a huge step forward last year averaging a career-high 6.2 assists and is averaging 6.1 assists per game this season. He remains a score-first guard, but the threat of his scoring production opens up passing lanes for the rest of the offense.
So far this season Maxey has tallied over 6.5 assists in 14 games including eight of his past 14 games. This includes one of the two matchups with the Nets. While Brooklyn ranks eighth in opponents’ points per game, they are 21st in the league in assists per game allowed. Philadelphia recognized their season outlook ahead of the trade deadline and added some more youth to their roster. Quentin Grimes has provided a nice splash as an off-ball shooter next to Maxey and has a strong chance of getting his first start in a Sixers uniform.
Without Embiid on the floor, there also will be more traditional pick-and-roll opportunities for Maxey. He has taken some significant steps forward in making these reads with the influence of James Harden clear. Expect Guerschon Yabusele, Andre Drummond, and Adem Bona to receive the opportunities at the big man spot with shooters surrounding him.
Maxey is too talented to be fully kept under wraps without impacting the game. With some legitimate doubts about his scoring against a tough defense, expect him to assert himself as a playmaker and record at least seven assists tonight.
