Tyrese Maxey gets praise as Pistons top Sixers and Paul Reed speaks out
PHILADELPHIA — tyrese maxey was at the center of both the scoreboard and the storyline on Saturday night as the Detroit Pistons beat the Philadelphia 76ers 116-93. The game came in Philadelphia, where Paul Reed made clear he still has deep respect for his former teammate. Maxey finished with 23 points while the Pistons used the win to clinch the top seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Paul Reed’s bond with tyrese maxey stays strong
For Reed, now with Detroit, the night carried a personal edge because of the relationship he has kept with tyrese maxey since their days together in Philadelphia. Reed called Maxey “my brother” and said their connection has remained close even after Reed moved on from the 76ers. He added that their mothers are close and spend time together away from the court.
Reed said he was “happy to see him doing good” and described Maxey’s rise as impressive, pointing to his growth as both a player and a leader. Reed said he expected Maxey to keep producing at a high level and said he is proud of the way Maxey continues to perform.
Detroit’s win locks in the East’s top seed
The Pistons’ 116-93 victory did more than end the night with a clean result. It moved Detroit to 56-21 and secured the top seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, the team’s first time in that position since 2006-07. Detroit has also clinched the Central Division title for the first time since 2007-08.
Tobias Harris scored 19 points, Daniss Jenkins added 16 points and 14 assists, Jalen Duren had 16 points and seven rebounds, and Ausar Thompson finished with 14 points. Both Duren and Harris were listed as questionable before the game, but both played and helped Detroit pull away in the second half.
Maxey leads Philadelphia, while the Pistons keep rolling
tyrese maxey led the 76ers with 23 points, while Paul George added 20 and VJ Edgecombe scored 19. Philadelphia was without Joel Embiid, who was ruled out for injury maintenance and illness in the second half of a back-to-back. The 76ers had won eight of their previous 11 games before this loss.
Detroit’s control came after a back-and-forth first half. The Pistons led by 10 after the opening quarter, saw Philadelphia tie the game in the second, then finished the half on a 15-4 run that changed the tone of the night. From there, Detroit stretched the lead to as many as 26 points.
The broader picture is clear: the Pistons have won 12 of their last 15 games, and they have stayed on track even during the stretch in which Cade Cunningham has missed time with a collapsed left lung. Reed’s comments added a human layer to a night that was already significant for Detroit and for tyrese maxey.
What comes next
The 76ers now begin a three-game trip in San Antonio on Monday, while Detroit moves forward with the confidence of a locked-in top seed. For tyrese maxey, the night was another strong scoring effort in a loss, and for Reed, it was another reminder that some bonds hold even when the jerseys change.
