Sixers Bell Ringer: Tyrese Maxey Gets No Help As Joel Embiid-less Sixers Get Smoked By League-Best Cavs

Sixes Bell Ringer season standings:
Jared McCain – 8
Paul George – 3.5
Tyrese Maxey – 3.5
Joel Embiid – 3
KJ Martin – 2
Guerschon Yabusele – 2
Justin Edwards – 1st
Kelly Oubre Jr – 1st
Ricky Council IV – 1
(No poll was sent after the 12/16 win over Charlotte, so in a Liberty Ballers first, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey each received a half Bell Ringer.)

Poof.

Without Joel Embiid, the Sixers were thoroughly dominated by the league-leading Cavaliers in Cleveland on Saturday night, 126-99.

Tyrese Maxey got off to a hot start, but no one joined him at any point in the night.

The Sixers and Cavs were actually tied 30-30 after one. Cleveland then closed the second quarter on a big run, hitting over 60% of their threes in the first half and taking an 11-point lead into the locker room.

There was some shooting regression with the Cavs … but not nearly enough. Cleveland outclassed the Sixers in every aspect of the game Saturday night, putting the game away with a 33-21 third quarter that extended their lead to 23.

The Sixers are now 9-17 on the season and still sit outside the play-in picture. Next is a home game with Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs Monday evening.

But first a Bell Ringer with really only one choice.

Tyrese Maxey: 27 points, 3 assists, 1 rebound, 1 steal

Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images

Maxey had it going early, sparking a personal 8-0 run to force an early Cavaliers timeout. He added two assists and four more points as it looked like he could potentially carry the offense on a night when they desperately needed it.

After a quiet second quarter, Maxey did his best to try and drag the Sixers back into the game to start the second half. He was able to cut the lead to eight with a triple at the 5:24 mark of the third, forcing another Cleveland timeout. The Cavs answered back with another barrage of threes, and their lead never dipped below double digits again.

It’s good to see Maxey finding his shot from deep again. There were many strange theories and opinions as to why Maxey struggled from three to start the season. He was 5-of-10 Saturday and is now 18-of-38 (47.3%) over his last four games, which should allay these concerns.

The problem against the Cavs was Maxey had trouble finishing inside the arc. That’s not uncommon for smaller guards against the massive frontcourt of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, but it seemed like Maxey missed a few decent looks he created for himself.

On a night that wasn’t very good for either Sixer, Maxey was easily their best player. Feel free to vote for someone else in the poll and write your choice in the comments.