Sixers discuss Tyrese Maxey’s critical late turnover in loss to Wolves
It was a wild back-and-forth game at the Wells Fargo Center as the Philadelphia 76ers were locked in a battle with the Minnesota Timberwolves. It was a game that featured an incredible performance by Joel Embiid in a return from COVID, a 20-point rally by the Sixers, and a wild tip-in from Andre Drummond.
Alas, it ended in a 121-120 loss to the Timberwolves in double-overtime. The team lost despite 42 points and 14 rebounds from Embiid in his return to the floor.
A big reason for the loss was Tyrese Maxey throwing a critical turnover in the second extra session. With Philadelphia leading 120-119, Maxey was picked off by D’Angelo Russell and he hit Taurean Prince for a layup to give the Wolves the lead. Embiid was blocked by Anthony Edwards and that was it.
“It’s gonna happen,” said coach Doc Rivers of the turnover. “It won’t be his last one. It won’t be. He was making the right play. He probably should have thrown it up because Joel was popping on that play, but it is what it is. You can’t get it back. Move on.”
Maxey and Embiid were running a pick-and-roll and instead of rolling to the basket, Embiid actually popped out. Maxey could not make the right read and it led to the deciding turnover.
“I came off and I was trying to throw a pocket pass to Jo and the guy tipped it,” said a somber Maxey. “I probably should’ve instead of bounce passing it, pocket, wrapped it around, and threw it to Joel.”
Immediately, however, Embiid interjected and he blamed himself for Maxey’s miscue.
“It was on me,” Embiid said. “I was supposed to kind of roll and I popped so it made his angle a little harder to throw that pass so next time, we’re definitely going to do a better job.”
Embiid said tonight’s loss was on him and that the layoff wasn’t an excuse for not executing in crunch time.
When Maxey was asked about what happened on his last turnover, Embiid interrupted him to say he was supposed to roll harder and that he made Maxey’s pass more difficult pic.twitter.com/7O45sonBiF
— Kyle Neubeck (@KyleNeubeck) November 28, 2021
The Sixers will need Maxey and Embiid to grow and learn from this mistake. This is one that ultimately cost Philadelphia the game late and they have now lost two in a row to fall to 10-10 on the season. They will host the Orlando Magic on Monday looking to bounce back.
This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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