TITLE: Maxey Shrugs Off Finger Setback; Philadelphia Updates on Edgecombe, Barlow and Terry
SLUG: maxey-finger-setback-philadelphia-updates-edgecombe-barlow-terry
CONTENT:
Tyrese Maxey briefly left Friday’s victory in Indiana after aggravating a right-hand pinkie injury but returned to spearhead the 76ers’ push for Eastern Conference seeding.
The guard headed to the locker room in the third quarter, asked medical staff to numb and rewrap the finger and re-entered the contest wearing the splint he has sported in recent games. “I don’t have time to be timid right now,” Maxey said, noting the team’s dependence on him with Joel Embiid sidelined by an emergency appendectomy earlier in the week.
Philadelphia, likely headed for the play-in tournament but still mathematically alive for the No. 6 spot, must defeat Milwaukee on Sunday and receive additional help to avoid the extra round of games. Forward Paul George said the roster must embrace an underdog mindset without the reigning MVP: “Teams that make it further than their expectation, it’s because they’re playing together.”
Edgecombe Fighting Through Rookie Fatigue
First-year wing VJ Edgecombe admitted “I’ve never been so tired in my life,” describing a nonstop schedule that began with last year’s pre-draft process. Despite the physical strain, he insisted there is “no mental fatigue” and vowed to keep building chemistry with teammates.
Barlow Returns to San Antonio Roots
Dominick Barlow’s visit to San Antonio carried personal meaning; the forward started his NBA journey with the Spurs as an undrafted signee in 2022. Barlow credited the organization for laying “foundational blocks” in his game and said he is pleased to see San Antonio back among the Western Conference’s top teams.
Terry Earns Standard Contract
Dalen Terry feared bad news after finding five missed calls from his agent following a late flight, only to discover the 76ers were converting his two-way deal into a standard contract. Head coach Nick Nurse awarded the guard an “A+” for professionalism since his February arrival. “This is finally a chance I get to show everything I can do,” Terry said.
Source: Hoops Rumors
