76ers’ Tyrese Maxey gets brutally honest on battling illness in Game 2 vs. Knicks

NEW YORK — Tyrese Maxey fought through an illness and delivered an incredible performance in the Philadelphia 76ers’ Game 2 showdown against the New York Knicks. But the Sixers lost in stunning fashion, putting them on the ropes for the series. Try as Maxey did to overcome a tough, gritty Knicks team and a nasty illness, he couldn’t drag Philly into the win column.

Maxey, who recorded 35 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds, said that around 8:00 the night before the game, he couldn’t move and felt chills throughout his body. He missed the team’s shootaround the morning of the game. After nearly 45 minutes of battle against the Knicks, he understandably looked exhausted at the postgame podium.

“I don’t feel great at all, honestly,” he said. “I don’t like taking medicine. Everybody knows that. Like, I really can’t stand taking medicine but I took medicine, IV. I did whatever they asked me to do — and I wasn’t missing a game, so it didn’t matter. I don’t feel great but it is what it is.”

Maxey was on his way to cementing a legendary Flu Game, a performance lauded as heroic and awe-inspiring and helped the 76ers bounce back from a Game 1 loss. The first part of that can still hold true, as Maxey deserves a smattering of recognition and appreciation. Unfortunately, it will have to be remembered through the lens of an agonizing defeat.

Tyrese Maxey fights through illness in 76ers’ Game 2 loss to Knicks