Pledged by a personally-set goal to “smile more” upon taking the floor on December 16, 2024, Tyrese Maxey likely found showcasing one’s pearly whites to be a lot easier, considering all of the green on his shot chart. Buoyed already by a “your turn, my turn”-type takeover alongside his nine-time All-Star teammate, Maxey ups his ante defensively, undercutting the Charlotte Hornets’ pass attempt to collect one of his night's many swipes. Unnoticed in his deliberate jog upcourt — miraculous, given his scoring total already — Maxey takes advantage, easing into an in-rhythm catch-and-shoot trifecta, ballooning the Philadelphia 76ers’ lead to 12. Momentum would remain on Philadelphia’s side throughout, as they spoiled the return of Charlotte’s All-Star guard with a victory, a fifth win over a seven-game span. Matching his aforementioned teammate’s 33-point outburst with comparable, do-it-all brilliance of his own, Maxey's avalanche allowed for 40 points (on 12-of-28 shooting), accompanied by five rebounds, five assists, four steals, six 3-pointers, and a +18 plus-minus. · Dec 17, 2024