Multiple Sixers discuss Tyrese Maxey playing 52 minutes vs. Hawks

PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia 76ers saw one slip through their fingers in Sunday's 142-134 double overtime loss to the Atlanta Hawks. They rallied late in the fourth to force OT after the Hawks took control of the game, and made some big plays in the first overtime session to be in a position to win the game with Tyrese Maxey at the line.

With the Sixers leading 126-124, the normally reliable Maxey confidently stepped to the line, but he missed both free throws. The Hawks then had one last chance when Dominick Barlow fouled Atlanta forward Jalen Johnson who stepped to the line and knocked down both to force the second OT session where the Hawks eventually did enough to win the game.

In the end, Maxey ended up playing 52 minutes and scoring 44 points with nine assists and seven rebounds. He scored 24 points across the fourth quarter and the two overtime sessions as he got stronger at the same went on which impressed his teammates.

"He's a warrior," said Paul George. "He's a warrior. No question about it. He's a warrior. He's a fighter. He takes so many hits. Teams holding, grabbing, he hits the ground so many times he bounces right back up. Again, I keep saying it, man. It’s a leadership about him."

That leadership Maxey has inspires his teammates to step up and produce when the time calls for it. George, for example, wants to make sure he is there to help the 6-year guard out of Kentucky get the job done and give Philadelphia a big boost.

"When he's out there, I play for him," George continued. "I play for him. I do everything I can to make the game easier for him. He's our guy. So it's inspiring. As me, as a vet, it's inspiring for a guy to consistently do it and to be efficient. To be efficient with all the minutes that he's playing, it’s impressive."

Maxey is also setting an example for rookie VJ Edgecombe who is still learning the ropes of the NBA. The No. 3 overall pick was limited to just 21 minutes on Sunday due to a restriction placed upon him following a 3-game absence with a calf issue, but he was in awe of what Maxey did against the Hawks.

"52 minutes is a lot," marveled Edgecombe. "You try to keep the game at 48. No overtimes, but he's elite. He's elite, man. He's so dynamic. Someone that’s really good at basketball. So I just sit there and just like, yeah. Like, shots he make? I expect it now, at this point, especially just being alongside him, I'm just watching him work out, stuff for that. Like the shots I see him make, the layups I see him make it. It don’t really surprise me now more. He’s really good."

Maxey will have a day off on Monday before leading the Sixers against the Washington Wizards on Tuesday.

This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Multiple Sixers discuss Tyrese Maxey playing 52 minutes vs. Hawks