Tyrese Maxey has career-high 54 points as 76ers outlast Bucks in OT - ESPN

MILWAUKEE — Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey is arguably the NBA's hardest-working player this season.

His heavy workload isn't hindering his production so far.

Maxey was already averaging an NBA-leading 40.3 minutes per game this season before he had a career-high 54 points and nine assists over 46½ minutes in a 123-114 overtime victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday.

According to Elias Sports Bureau, Maxey and Wilt Chamberlain are the only 76ers to have at least 50 points and nine assists in a game.

«Blessed,» Maxey said. «I thank God for it. Any time you're in a conversation with Wilt, who scored 100 points, you can't complain.»

Maxey's remarkable performance came one night after he played 39 minutes in a 121-112 loss to the Toronto Raptors. The 76ers have leaned on Maxey even more heavily because injuries have limited the availability of 2023 MVP Joel Embiid and six-time All-NBA wing Paul George.

Embiid missed a sixth straight game Thursday because of a knee issue. George made his season debut Monday after missing Philadelphia's first 12 games while recovering from offseason surgery on his left knee.

Philadelphia (9-6) is above .500 thanks largely to Maxey, who is averaging 33.4 points to rank second in the league, behind only the Los Angeles Lakers' Luka Doncic (34.6).

«He's special,» George said. «He's gifted. I think what you guys don't see and what stands out is after the game, on a back-to-back, 50, 45-plus minutes, he goes and lifts. That just speaks volumes to who he is, why he's where he's at. I've been around a lot of great guys in this league. That's what they do. They do the stuff like that keeps them going, keeps them strong, always working on themselves.»

Maxey earned his first All-Star Game