Sixers list Tyrese Maxey (illness) as questionable ahead of Game 2 against Knicks – NBC Sports Philadelphia

NEW YORK – The Sixers added a second questionable All-Star before Game 2 of their first-round playoff series against the Knicks.

Tyrese Maxey was not present at the Sixers’ shootaround Monday morning due to illness and the team listed him as questionable for its game that evening.

The Most Improved Player finalist played 37.5 minutes per game this regular season and 44 on Saturday in the Sixers’ series-opening loss.

Maxey had a rough second quarter in the opener, shooting 2 of 9 from the floor in the period, but he played a central role in the team’s second-half comeback surge. The 23-year-old guard scored 21 points after halftime on 9-of-12 shooting.

The Sixers went 4-8 this season without Maxey. One of those victories was a memorable 79-73 victory at Madison Square Garden on March 10 as Maxey progressed through the NBA’s concussion protocols.

At the end of Monday morning, Joel Embiid (recovering from a left knee injury) remained doubtful. De’Anthony Melton (recovering from back injury) and Robert Covington (left knee bone bruise) were out.

According to Sixers head coach Nick Nurse, Embiid told him his left knee felt “pretty good” Sunday after a troubling play in Game 1 that caused the superstar center to miss 2:37 of the second quarter .

After the Sixers’ defensive rebounding struggles in the series opener, Nurse said stints where Embiid plays alongside backup big Paul Reed are a “possibility” moving forward.

“For me, I’m just making sure I get my driving lanes and get to the dunker (spot),” Reed said before filming his approach in lineups with Embiid. “And sometimes cut.” I’m just trying to stay moving…so one of the other guys gets open. They’re always going to double-team (Embiid), so it’s just about making sure someone’s open.

Given the suboptimal health of their stars, the Sixers would particularly benefit from a stronger secondary offense. Kyle Lowry impressed with a 12-point third quarter in Game 1, but the Knicks’ bench outscored the Sixers’ by a 42-7 margin.

Starters Kelly Oubre Jr. and Tobias Harris each shot 3 of 7 from the floor.

“One thing we’ve talked about throughout the team is on the offensive side, switching to different plays,” Harris said Monday. “And don’t be as predictable as we were at times in (Game 1). But for me personally, I watch the film and I see different places that I could shoot and be more aggressive, or let it fly a few times out of three. So I take all that into consideration and prepare for the match.