Nice to see that you read other posts too, and thanks for posting your location. I think you have a tree that is stressed by moisture, being that you are in a dry area. Watering the tree will certainly help.
I am also wondering, because of the dead branches, if you have some sun scauld damage happening to sugar maple. If the branches are on the inside and lower part of the tree, the twigs may be dying normally as the tree drops lower/interior branches in favour of height growth and the new branches - as a result of light availability.
Perhaps, after about 2 weeks of just giving the tree extra moisture, you could consider fertilization.