76ers’ Nick Nurse reveals Tyrese Maxey’s 3-word declaration before sealing Game 2 win over Celtics

Without Joel Embiid, the Philadelphia 76ers looked almost cooked in their first-round matchup in the 2026 NBA playoffs against the Boston Celtics. They got demolished by 32 points in Game 1 and looked like they did not belong on the same floor as their division rival. But on Tuesday, the 76ers bounced back in a big way — with Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe starring in Philly’s 111-97 victory to even up the series.

Edgecombe did make plenty of history along the way and led the team in scoring with 30 points. But come winning time, the ball was in Maxey’s hands and he hit paydirt over and over again. He made the most out of the one-five pick-and-roll action with Adem Bona or Andre Drummond, and he drilled multiple threes and converted multiple layups in crunch time — finishing with 12 points in the fourth and putting the game to bed.

After the game, 76ers head coach Nick Nurse revealed that Maxey was simply fulfilling his end of the bargain after making a fierce three-word declaration in the fourth quarter.

“He just wanted them and I think we can probably all see that,” Nurse said, via Jeff Skversky of FOX29 Philly. “He kinda looked at me for a play call and I looked at him and called, and he’s like, ‘I got it.'”

“I got it!”

Nick Nurse on what Tyrese Maxey said to the Sixers Coach in the final minutes of game 2 to close out the Celtics in Boston to even the series

“He just wanted them and I think we can probably all see that”https://t.co/gxcgqlJ7Bs pic.twitter.com/AmtQ09QCf8

— Jeff Skversky (@JeffSkversky) April 22, 2026

Maxey did in fact get it. He came up huge for the 76ers when the team needed him the most, and they managed to steal a game on the road and perhaps buy some more time for Embiid to return later on in the series.

The 76ers have loomed as a dark horse contender in the East all season long, as they have a talented but injury-prone roster. But if they keep on playing the way they did on Tuesday, especially with Maxey leading the way, then Philly certainly has a chance to make some noise.

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