The Philadelphia 76ers only had seven players left. With various injuries, several players out due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols, and Mike Scott technically active but unable to play due to a knee injury, the Sixers were forced to play the Denver Nuggets on January 9 with a seven-man rotation. For 20-year-old rookie Tyrese Maxey, the only available ball-handler on the team, it was a chance to show off everything he could do.
Doc Rivers and his coaching staff told Maxey before the game that he needed to be aggressive, and Maxey delivered.