Sound the siren, the Philadelphia 76ers' annual mid-season collapse may have just finally arrived. In the midst of Paul George's suspension and Joel Embiid's injury problems, Tyrese Maxey has poured blood, sweat and tears into the Sixers' postseason push. Now, after appearing to sustain an injury to his right hand due to a collision with his fellow teammate, Adem Bona, Maxey could be set for a stint on the sidelines.
Tyrese Maxey appeared to injure his hand at the end of Sixers-Hawks. pic.twitter.com/cBS7fbmc2n
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) March 8, 2026
According to The Athletic's Philadelphia 76ers writer, Tony Jones, "Nick Nurse has said that Tyrese Maxey is undergoing X-rays on his hand. He said that's the concern." Jones continued by posting on X, "I’m told Tyrese Maxey will receive additional testing tomorrow on his right finger. Nothing conclusive tonight."
Nick Nurse said Tyrese Maxey is undergoing x rays on his hand. He said that’s the concern
— Tony Jones (@Tjonesonthenba) March 8, 2026
With the 76ers already missing cornerstone stars Joel Embiid and Paul George -- two players capable of completely reshaping an opponent’s scouting report -- Philadelphia simply cannot afford to lose Tyrese Maxey for any extended stretch. The consequences of news on this scale could be catastrophic for the franchise.
Maxey's injury could cement the Sixers' place in the Play-In Tournament
Throughout the 2025-26 NBA season, the Eastern Conference has resembled the Wild West. With the Boston Celtics and the Indiana Pacers missing high-profile stars such as Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton, respectively, Philadelphia had an opportunity to seize the moment and secure a positive playoff seeding.
The ascension of Tyrese Maxey into superstardom has provided this roster with the perfect foundation to build momentum, and things appeared to be following that trajectory. In the midst of a career-high year, the 25-year-old has averaged 29 points, two steals, and 6.7 assists, while shooting 46.1% from the floor.
Additionally, Embiid's return to action and a miraculous improvement in his mobility on the court had only propelled the hopes of a franchise that had little to cheer about in its previous campaign. The superstar center has chalked up 26.6 points and 7.5 rebounds, while draining 49.5% from the field. Even George had appeared to settle into his less prominent offensive role in the rotation -- recording 16 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game.
It does not take a genius to work out that when Embiid's inevitable injury arrived, and the NBA slapped George with a 25-game suspension, this is a team that would exhibit inferior traits. Now, with Maxey on the verge of the sidelines, the remaining players on this roster have shown little to suggest that they are capable of dragging the 76ers to a postseason place.
Nothing is currently set in concrete, but if Tyrese Maxey's finger injury is confirmed in the coming days, then the Philadelphia 76ers may have to accept that the Play-In Tournament is where their destiny lies. A longer postseason schedule increases the risk of recurring fitness issues coming back to haunt the team. Buckle up, Sixers fans -- I think you know how this story goes.