The Philadelphia 76ers' chase of a playoff berth just got a major boost.
All-star guard Tyrese Maxey is returning to the 76ers lineup after missing 10 consecutive games due to a finger injury, the team announced on Saturday.
The 25-year-old will get the start against the Charlotte Hornets in his return after three weeks on the sidelines.
Maxey suffered the injury in the final seconds of Philadelphia's 125-116 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on March 7. With less than a minute left in the game, the two-time all-star got into a collision with teammate Adem Bona and Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu while trying to corral a loose ball off an inbounds play. He immediately exited the game afterward, covering his hand with his jersey.
The injury put a halt to Maxey's breakout campaign, as he was averaging career-bests across the board — 29.0 points, 4.1 rebounds, 6.7 assists and NBA-leading 2.0 steals — through 61 games.
Maxey's return comes just days after Joel Embiid and Paul George returned to the 76ers lineup from injury and suspension, respectively.
Philadelphia (40-33) enters Saturday's game holding the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference, just 0.5 games back of the Atlanta Hawks, who own the final guaranteed playoff spot as the sixth seed.
The Hornets are just one game back of the 76ers and enter the matchup having won five straight games.
