Tyrese Maxey is giving up a tough reality check after the loss to the Pelicans

Tyrese McKay revealed a clear message for his Philadelphia The 76ers team after their loss at the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday night.

Maxey is halfway through his sixth NBA season with the 76ers. He worked his way through the ranks to become one of the best guards in the league, helping the 76ers remain steady as playoff contenders. However, they tend to be vulnerable to turnovers, something they suffered against the Pelicans.

Makey reflected in the loss after the game, via NBC Sports Philadelphia. He commented on how he and the team needed to control the momentum from start to finish as they navigated the ups and downs of the competition.

“It’s going to take a lot. You know what I mean. When you’re digging yourself a hole, only the U.S. can get out of it. You know what I mean? Like we’re in this thing together? You know what I mean, through the highs, the lows, the peaks, the valleys. You know what I mean? We came in and we said it’s so good, we’ve been playing since day one. Honestly, we started well and they hit some shots and we tried to come back.

“It will take a lot.”

Maxie says only a team can dig themselves out of this hole. | @FultonBank pic.twitter.com/vHzTK45kSt

— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilli) February 22, 2026

How Tyrese McKay, the 76ers played against the Pelicans

Tyrese McKay and the 76ers will be active in the playoffs this season. However, their latest loss to the Pelicans leaves them with questions to answer.

Four players scored in double figures for Philadelphia in the loss, including Maxey. He finished with 27 points, seven assists, five steals and three rebounds. He shot 9 of 23 from the field, including 2 of 11 from beyond the arc and 7 of 8 from the free throw line. Kelly Oubre Jr. followed with 25 points and five rebounds, VJ Edgecomb had 14 points and five rebounds, while Quentin Grimes had 11 points and three assists.

Philadelphia improved to a 30-26 record on the season, holding onto sixth place in the Eastern Conference standings. They are above the Miami Heat and Orlando Magic while trailing the Toronto Raptors and Cleveland Cavaliers.

Coming off a four-game losing streak, the 76ers will look to get back into the win column in their next game. They stay on the road when they face the Minnesota Timberwolves on February 22nd at 7pm ET.