Tyrese Maxey fights through a stifling defense to sink a fadeaway floater

Tyrese McKay on Wednesday night provided a rare highlight as Philadelphia 76ers fell 133–107 to the Cleveland Cavaliers at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Makey battled through heavy defensive pressure to knock down a fadeaway floater early in the first quarter, one of several bright moments in a tough game for Philly. The 76ers struggled to find a rhythm as Cleveland controlled the game on both ends, silencing the home crowd and pulling away before halftime. Maxey finished with 14 points while dealing with constant pressure from the Cavaliers’ backcourt.

The NBA took to its official X (formerly known as Twitter), sharing disputed bucket from Makei during the first quarter.

“He picked up his dribble.

The defender was passed over him.

The sweater still has to fall.

Tyrese Maxey scores in style!”

Picked up his dribble.
The defender was passed over him.
The sweater still has to fall.

Tirese McKay scores in style! pic.twitter.com/nvSArAv9kL

— NBA (@NBA) January 15, 2026

The Cavaliers started the game with a decisive run that immediately put the 76ers under pressure. The Cavaliers’ ball movement and perimeter shooting stretched the floor, forcing Philadelphia into defensive rotations that kept breaking down. By halftime, Cleveland had built a commanding lead, effectively eliminating the 76ers’ transition opportunities.

Maxey struggled to generate consistent offense as the Cavaliers sent length and pressure at him on nearly every possession. He finished 5-of-16 from the field and 2-of-8 from beyond the arc while adding four assists and two steals in 31 minutes of action. Despite the efficiency issues, the 76ers guard remained aggressive, often drawing multiple defenders and trying to create momentum.

Joel Embiid led the 76ers with 20 points and reached the milestone of becoming the seventh player in franchise history to surpass 13,000 career points. Paul George added 17 points, but the 76ers shot just 40.4 percent overall and 27.9 percent from beyond the arc, limiting any comeback attempt.

The home crowd expressed its frustration as Cleveland pulled Donovan Mitchell’s 35 points and nine assists, while Darius Garland added 20 before exiting late with a foot injury. The loss marked one of Philadelphia’s toughest outings of the season, as the Cavaliers dictated play throughout and left Maxey’s contested outing as a rare bright spot.