On Sunday, December 7, the Philadelphia 76ers hosted the Los Angeles Lakers at the Wells Fargo Center in a high-intensity matchup between two strong early-season contenders.
But basketball temporarily took a back seat when Tyrese Maxey lost his cool after a non-call at the rim, leading to a heated confrontation with a referee that his teammates had to physically defuse.
Tyrese Maxey erupts after no-call, teammates intervene
The incident occurred at the end of the first quarter, with 2:54 remaining in the game. Maxey drove aggressively in the paint, sailing toward Lakers defenders as Philadelphia led 23-17.
Austin Reaves contested the drive, appearing to make enough contact that many expected a foul.
Tyrese Maxey had to be restrained by the referees ๐ณ pic.twitter.com/inAj6dlEXd
โ Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) December 8, 2025
However, a different camera angle showed Maxey also giving Reaves a hard shove as he tried to create space, sending the Lakers guard scrambling awkwardly toward the ball.
lol, that’s why he was crazy. This non-call. The thing you chose not to include in your clip. Tyrese Maxey slander will NOT be tolerated on this app, man! ๐ pic.twitter.com/9m4rhX7zIl
โ Tyrice (@TheRealTyrice) December 8, 2025
Maxey’s shot attempt was ultimately denied by Jackson Hayes, who cleanly crushed the lay-up attempt. The combination of missing the basket and not getting the whistle he thought he deserved ignited Maxey’s frustration.
Seconds later, he was seen shouting at the referee, moving dangerously close as his teammates rushed to hold him back. Head coach Nick Nurse also expressed his frustration on the sidelines, confronting officials about the non-call.
This emotional surge highlighted both Maxey’s competitiveness and the pressure of the moment for a player performing at an elite level this season.
Maxey’s breakout season continues
Despite the heated exchanges, Maxey’s production on the court once again showed why he has become one of the NBA’s brightest young stars.
He entered the night averaging 31.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 7.1 assists per game on 46.7% shooting, numbers that not only shatter his career averages but put him firmly in the early All-NBA conversation.
By halftime, the 25-year-old guard already had 15 points, four rebounds and three assists as the Sixers led 60-53 before the break.
The Lakers, meanwhile, welcomed back their superstar duo of LeBron James and Luka Donฤiฤ. Donฤiฤ had missed two matches to travel to Slovenia for the birth of his second child, while James had missed the previous match due to a sciatica flare-up. Their return considerably raised the stakes of the confrontation.
For Philadelphia, the presence of Joel Embiid also raised the team’s ceiling. The 2023 MVP was listed as probable before the announcement, but he suited up, giving the Sixers their full arsenal against a powerhouse Lakers team.
With emotions running high and both teams struggling to consolidate their positions in the standings, Maxey’s outburst became the defining moment of an already intense clash – further evidence of the passion and pressure driving one of the league’s fastest superstars.
