PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 22: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on October 22, 2026 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 22: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on October 22, 2026 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
The NBA’s fierce competition is evident when two friends on the court set aside their past relationship to compete fiercely against each other. That is what happened with James Harden and Tyrese Maxey tonight, as things got chippy late in the fourth quarter after the 76ers mounted an excellent comeback to erase what had once been a 29-point lead for the Cavaliers.
When the 76ers had a three-point lead (98-95) with less than six minutes left in the fourth quarter, Harden and Maxey pushed each other as a heated tussle ensued between the former teammates. This came moments after Tyrese Maxey’s persistent defense seemed to test the Cavaliers guard’s nerves.
Wow, Tyrese Maxey and James Harden were friends before the game
— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) October 23, 2026
The 76ers’ star was all over James Harden when the Cavaliers’ veteran took exception to his demeanor, grabbed his jersey, and pulled him aside. The moment shocked NBA fans on social media, as most believed Harden and Maxey were close friends.
“Why does every game have a fight, wtf?”
“Meanwhile, they were literally dapping each other up before the game.”
“These goobers ain’t being fr 😭😭 literally master and student relationship.”
“Bro lost the lead and is trying to fight 😂.”
“Everybody is getting so negative this year, I love it.”
“They’re friends; they’re not fooling anyone with this fake negativity.”
Even the Philadelphia crowd got into it and began chanting ‘F–k you, Harden’ after this incident. But it was clear that even though things got competitive, they didn’t become hostile toward one another. After the coaching staff and teammates intervened, the broadcasters noted that Maxey and Harden were smiling at each other.
Following the game, Tyrese Maxey spoke to the postgame media scrum and said the moment reflected their competitiveness, not their feelings toward one another.
“I love him, and he loves me,” Maxey said.
Even before the game, in a viral exchange between the two players, Harden called Maxey back from the tunnel during practice just to properly greet him on the court. Clearly, they share a lot of mutual respect, since they were teammates not so long ago.
Harden called his former teammate Maxey back out to dap him up 😂
This was an underrated duo 🔥
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 22, 2026
Tyrese Maxey finished with 32 points, six assists, three rebounds, and two steals, shooting 12-for-23 from the field (52.2% FG) and 2-for-7 from the three-point line (28.5% 3P).
Meanwhile, James Harden had 16 points, five assists, and three rebounds, while shooting 5-for-12 from the field (41.7% FG) and 3-for-6 from beyond the arc (50.0% 3P).
The 76ers completed the 29-point comeback to win 114-106 against the Cavaliers. Ultimately, the heated exchange did little to change the mutual respect between James Harden and Tyrese Maxey. With two more matchups left, their competitiveness could deliver several more entertaining moments this season.
Chaitanya Dadhwal is an NBA Analyst and Columnist at Fadeaway World, based in New Delhi, India. His passion for basketball began in 2018 after watching James Harden during his prime, eventually leading him to pursue a career in sports journalism in 2021. He began writing professionally while completing his law degree at Jindal Global Law School in Sonipat, India, where he graduated in 2022 and developed a particular interest in Sports Law. Chaitanya ultimately chose journalism over a career in law after realizing that his passion for sports, and basketball in particular, was where he wanted to build his career. His work focuses on breaking down complex NBA storylines, analyzing player and team decisions, and presenting different sides of an argument to provide readers with a balanced perspective. While he strives to maintain an objective approach in his journalism, Chaitanya openly admits to being a passionate supporter of the Houston Rockets and Arsenal. That combination of analytical thinking and personal passion allows him to simplify complex ideas and present them in an accessible way for basketball fans. Beyond journalism, Chaitanya hopes to establish his own sports management agency and represent athletes. His long-term goal is to help create greater equality of opportunity for athletes across different sports and genders, using his legal background and experience in sports media to help bridge gaps within the industry.