Tyrese Maxey

He insisted he wouldn’t live in the past, even given his goal of redeeming himself after last year’s Christmas Day performance wasn’t to his liking. But, in recognizing the opportunity to both slow down time and use his generationally-gifted speed to put a win in the Philadelphia 76ers’ future, Tyrese Maxey couldn't resist wrapping the bow on such a present. Left with a literal second to break free of the Boston Celtics’ elite defense, Maxey turbos through a top-of-the-key maze to collect an all-important inbounds pass. Slowed, but certainly not stopped by the stumble-and-fumble accompanying his catch, the All-Star guard merely hooks an awkwardly-angled bucket off glass, gifting Philadelphia a late-game seven-point lead and ultimately a victory on December 25, 2024. Best described as whirlwind-like, and yet well-controlled at once, the electrifying guard combined for 25 of Philly’s 36 final quarter points, soon solidifying him as the game’s No. 1 scorer. Brilliant on both ends, Maxey recorded 33 points (on 12-of-23 shooting), four rebounds, 12 assists, three steals, one block, and three 3-pointers, helping the suddenly-sizzling 76ers send a nationally-televised message against the defending champions.