Eastern Notes: Maxey, Wizards, Bucks, Hornets

Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey shined during the team’s first playoff game against Toronto on Saturday, Tim Bontemps of ESPN.com writes. Maxey finished with 38 points and four rebounds, shooting 14-of-21 from the field and 5-of-8 from three-point range.

“His speed is a factor,” head coach Doc Rivers explained postgame. “We know that we have to keep using him in space. Some nights, maybe he’ll drive to pass. Tonight, it was him driving and getting to the basket and making shots.”

Maxey averaged 17.5 points per game this season, shooting 43% from deep. His emergence has allowed the Sixers to sport a “big four,” which includes James Harden, Joel Embiid and Tobias Harris.

There’s more from the Eastern Conference:

  • Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington explores how the Wizards could navigate a much deeper Eastern Conference, which features several teams that have legitimate title hopes this season. Washington finished with a 35-47 record and seems committed to competing around Bradley Beal. Eastern Conference teams won more games against Western teams this season (226-224) for the first time since 2008/09.
  • Lori Nickel of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (subscriber-only link) examines how the Bucks used their bye week ahead of the playoffs. Milwaukee spent time preparing for Chicago, a divisional rival who also earned a week of rest by avoiding the play-in tournament. The franchises will meet in the playoffs for the first time since 2015.
  • Rod Boone of the Charlotte Observer takes a look at what went right and wrong for the Hornets this season. Charlotte made the play-in tournament after finishing 43-39 this season, going 0-7 in overtime games.
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