Tyrese Maxey returned from a three-week absence due to a finger injury in the Philadelphia 76ers' win over the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday, and it didn't look like he skipped a beat.
In the win, the Kentucky alum scored 26 points on 10-for-18 shooting (including 3-for-6 from deep) and recorded eight assists, seven rebounds, a steal, and a block in 43 minutes.
And to make things even better for Philadelphia fans, Maxey wasn't the only player on the team who made a positive impact. Paul George recorded a 26-point, 13-rebound double-double (and also hit the game-winning three-pointer with a little over a minute left), and Joel Embiid scored a game-high 29 points and recorded six rebounds, two assists, and two blocks.
VJ Edgecombe was the only other 76er to score in double digits (13 points on 5-for-11 shooting), but that didn't matter. Philadelphia's top-three guys stepped up, defeated a red-hot Hornets team, and proved to the fanbase and the basketball world that maybe they shouldn't be counted out in the playoffs this year.
The 76ers now have some momentum heading into the playoffs
There are still a couple of weeks left in the schedule, but right now, things are looking good for the 76ers, who struggled in February and the beginning of March (they were 7-8 from Feb. 1 to Mar. 7, Maxey's last game before his absence).
A lot needs to go well for Philadelphia to truly establish itself as a legitimate contender this season, particularly from a health standpoint. But it's clear that the team has talent, especially at the top of the roster. And it also helps their cause that they are in a pretty open Eastern Conference, where a deep playoff run is truly possible for numerous teams.
It's not going to be easy, but if the 76ers' top stars can stay healthy, they have what it takes to make some noise in the East. It would be tough to imagine them beating a team like the Boston Celtics or New York Knicks in a seven-game series, but everybody thought their world was going to crumble down when Maxey went down, and they ended up having a winning record during their recent stretch without him.
Saturday's game was proof that Philadelphia can be a real threat, and it shouldn't be overlooked come playoff time. The team is gaining momentum at the right time, and they might become a team that other Eastern Conference foes will not want to go up against in the postseason.