Maxey drops career-high 51 points as Sixers escape Jazz

LOS ANGELES – Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey celebrated his first career NBA All-Star selection with a standout performance.

Maxey scored a career-high 51 points to lead the Sixers to a hard-fought 127-124 victory over the Jazz in Utah on Thursday (Friday Manila time), an uplifting end to a day that saw the 76ers tensely awaiting word on how long they'll be without injured star Joel Embiid.

Maxey, who had missed three games with an ankle injury, returned to help the 76ers overcome the absence of reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Embiid.

The 76ers said Thursday Embiid had been diagnosed with a lateral meniscus injury and would be sidelined at least through the weekend as doctors devise a treatment plan.

The Cameroonian star was hurt on Tuesday when Golden State's Jonathan Kuminga fell on his leg as they scrambled for a loose ball.

Maxey said when he learned Embiid would be out he was determined to play, even though his ankle was still less than 100%.

"I was about to sit again," he told TNT. "But I was like, man I'm not leaving my team out there, I've got to go out there and compete and we've got to get one 'W' on this road trip."

Maxey improved on his previous career high of 50 points, set on November 12 against Indiana.