If you've been watching the Philadelphia 76ers lately, you know the vibe is basically "Tyrese Maxey or bust." Honestly, it’s wild to see how much of the offensive load this kid is carrying while Joel Embiid and Paul George weave in and out of the lineup. People see the box scores and think they know the story, but the Tyrese Maxey last 5 games stretch tells a much deeper tale of a guy morphing into a genuine MVP candidate.
He's not just a fast guard anymore. He’s the engine.
The numbers are kinda staggering. Over this recent stretch, Maxey has been hovering around the 30-point mark with almost frightening consistency, but Wednesday night against Cleveland was a reality check. It was one of those rare "human" nights. Let’s get into what actually happened on the floor because the raw stats—while impressive—don't show the physical toll of playing 40 minutes a night.
The Rollercoaster of Tyrese Maxey last 5 games
The last five games for Maxey have been a masterclass in endurance, featuring everything from a 38-point explosion in a heartbreaker to a literal shooting slump against the Cavs.
On January 14, 2026, Philly ran into a buzzsaw against Cleveland. Maxey struggled, putting up just 14 points on 5-of-16 shooting. It was ugly. You could see the fatigue. He was 2-of-8 from deep and finished as a -22. But before you panic, you have to look at what he did just 48 hours prior. On January 12 against Toronto, he was surgical. He dropped 33 points, hit six triples, and looked like the best player on the court by a mile.
That Raptors mini-series was basically the Tyrese Maxey show. On January 11, he played 45 minutes in an overtime loss to Toronto. 45 minutes! He poured in 38 points, grabbed 4 boards, and dished out 5 assists. When people talk about his "last 5 games," they often overlook that he’s basically sprinting for the length of a marathon every week.
Breaking Down the Box Scores
Looking back to January 9 against Orlando, Maxey was the reason the Sixers left with a 103-91 win. He didn't have his best shooting night from the perimeter (3-of-8), but he got to the line and willed his way to 29 points. Then you have the Washington game on January 7. That was a "get right" game where he dropped 22 points and 8 assists in only 28 minutes. It's the only time lately he’s actually been able to sit on the bench and breathe during the fourth quarter.
Maxey is currently averaging about 30.5 points per game on the season. In this five-game window, he's basically mirrored that, but the efficiency has been a seesaw.
- vs. Cleveland (Jan 14): 14 PTS | 31% FG | 2 AST
- at Toronto (Jan 12): 33 PTS | 63% FG | 6 3PM
- at Toronto (Jan 11): 38 PTS | 48% FG | 45 MIN
- at Orlando (Jan 9): 29 PTS | 45% FG | 3 STL
- vs. Washington (Jan 7): 22 PTS | 60% FG | 8 AST
Why the Efficiency Dip Matters
It’s easy to look at the 14-point stinker against the Cavs and wonder if the wheels are falling off. They aren't. What most people get wrong about the Tyrese Maxey last 5 games is the context of the defense. Every team the Sixers face right now is throwing a "box and one" or double-teaming him the second he crosses half-court.
Without Embiid's gravity in every single game, Maxey is seeing defensive looks that would make most guards crumble. He’s leading the league in minutes for a reason. Nick Nurse basically doesn't trust the offense to function when Tyrese is sitting. That creates a "high floor, high ceiling" situation where Maxey is almost guaranteed 25 points, but the efficiency will naturally dip when he's forced to take 25 shots just to keep the team in the game.
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Honestly, the fact that he's still shooting 48% from the field and nearly 41% from three on the season is a miracle given the workload.
The Fatigue Factor
You can't ignore the ankle. Earlier this season, Maxey missed 10 games with a sprain. Even though he’s "healthy" now, you can sometimes see him lose that first-step explosion late in the fourth quarter. In that January 11 overtime loss to the Raptors, he was clearly gassed by the final buzzer. He had 5 turnovers in that game, which is way higher than his usual average.
The All-Star Case is Already Closed
Despite the occasional off-night, Maxey is a lock for the 2026 All-Star Game in Los Angeles. He’s gone from a "spark plug" to the guy Paul George calls the undisputed captain of the team. That's high praise coming from a veteran who has seen everything.
What’s interesting is how his playstyle has shifted. He’s using his gravity to find guys like VJ Edgecombe and Kelly Oubre Jr. way more effectively than he did last year. In the Washington game, those 8 assists weren't just "hand-offs." They were high-level reads. He’s becoming a point guard in the truest sense, even if his primary instinct is still to put the ball in the bucket.
The Sixers are currently 22-16. If Maxey doesn't put up these numbers over the last five games, they are likely sitting below .500 and panicking about the play-in tournament. Instead, they are the 5th seed in the East and looking like a threat.
Real Talk: What's Next for Tyrese?
If you're a fantasy manager or just a die-hard Philly fan, don't let one bad game against Cleveland sour you. The volume is too high for him to stay down for long. The Sixers have a tough stretch coming up, and with the injury report constantly shifting, Maxey is going to continue seeing 20+ shots a night.
The key is going to be his shooting from the stripe. He’s been nearly automatic (over 87%), which provides a safety net even when his jumper isn't falling. Expect him to bounce back in the next outing. He’s too competitive to let a 14-point performance turn into a slump.
To keep a close eye on his progress, watch the minutes. If Nurse keeps him under 38 minutes, you'll likely see those efficiency numbers jump back up into the 50% range. If he’s pushed to 42+ minutes, expect more nights like the Cleveland game.
Next Steps for Following Maxey:
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- Track the "Embiid Effect": Watch how Maxey’s field goal attempts change when Embiid is on the floor. His efficiency usually spikes by about 4-5% when the big man is drawing double teams.
- Monitor the Minutes: If he stays above 40 minutes for more than three games in a row, he’s a prime candidate for a "rest" game or a shooting dip.
- Watch the Assist-to-Turnover Ratio: His growth as a playmaker is the real story of 2026. If he keeps the turnovers under 2 while scoring 30, he’s officially entered the superstar tier.
The 2025-26 season is the year Tyrese Maxey stopped being "the second option" and started being the guy. One bad night against the Cavs doesn't change the fact that the last five games have been some of the most impressive basketball of his young career.