Tyrese Maxey and Paul George are providing what the Sixers need most at the other end of the floor

If you thought at the beginning of this best-of-seven first-round series that the Sixers were going to have much of a chance to beat the Boston Celtics, you probably had to believe big contributions at the offensive end of the floor would be a necessity from the likes of Tyrese Maxey and Paul George. 

After all, Maxey did finish the season fifth in the league in scoring at 28.3 points a game. His outside shooting along with his blazing speed and quickness no doubt would be needed, especially without Joel Embiid, sidelined after having and appendectomy two weeks ago.

George — who appeared so refreshed coming off his 25-game suspension for his anti-drug violation — averaged 21 points in the last 10 games of the regular season and showed flashes of the George of old, particularly during a 39-point effort in a win over Washington.

While coach Nick Nurse is relying on the two for offense and really can't live without it, the pair are giving the coach more than maybe he even anticipated, and that's at the defensive end of the floor. He'll need it again as the series resumes Friday with Game 3 at 7 p.m. at the Xfinity Mobile Arena.

"He, obviously, was fantastic the other night," said Nurse of Maxey, who scored 29 points and nailed two game-clinching threes late. "What really stood out for me was how fantastic he was at the defensive end. He really did a lot at that end to impact the game. I know you probably lean more towards a couple of the big shots he hit when we needed them, we had to have an answer and he made a couple of those, but a couple of the other guys made some answer shots, too. 

"I was super impressed on how good he was on the defensive end. He was really energetic for one, but he was really smart, we were changing coverages and he was doing them all. He was really good defensively."

It's not really a forte of Maxey's to be so praised at the end of the court. But with Boston's firepower of outside shooters, it is imperative for the Sixers' guard to use his athleticism, quickness and speed to wreak havoc when the Celtics have the ball. He came up with two timely steals on Tuesday and has been a nuisance getting out on Boston's long-range shooters. All this while averaging 25 points a game.

George may have the toughest defensive assignment for the team, as he is often matched up with either Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown, the Celtics dominating one-two threat. 

"He's been really outstanding on the defensive end," said Nurse of George. "Those two guys, Tatum and Brown, are so, so good, and he's matched up with those guys all game long and he's really doing a fantastic job at that end, he's so good."

On the other end of the floor, Nurse has talked about how George's offense "moves the scoreboard," meaning he comes up with baskets when the team most needs them.

"We got to get him some looks and I think we're trying to design some stuff for him to get him some touches," Nurse said. "We're trying to do it at some opportune times. But then again, I give the guys some credit. There's been some kind of random stuff where all the sudden they see that Paul's migrating down in the post here, so let's chuck it down there up in the air to him and they found him as well. I feel, I hope I'm right, I feel his confidence growing at the offensive end as this keeps going along."

NOTES

Joel Embiid is listed as doubtful for Game 3... After taking a hard fall on his back in Tuesday's game, which caused him to limp to the locker room twice during the win, rookie VJ Edgecombe declared himself fit. "I ain't sore. I'm good. I'm ready to go play basketball. I got a lot of treatment and taking care of my body. I've been doing that prior to even falling, so I was able to sustain all of it. I'm good."... Game 4 will be at 7 p.m. on Sunday, before moving back to Boston on Tuesday for Game 5.