Tyrese Maxey scores 31 points and 76ers beat Magic to secure 7th place in the East
Tyrese Maxey scored 31 points, VJ Edgecombe added 19 points and 11 rebounds, and the 76ers overcame the absence of Joel Embiid to beat the Magic and secure 7th place in the Eastern Conference.
PHILADELPHIA — Tyrese Maxey scored 31 points, VJ Edgecombe added 19 points and 11 reboundsand the Philadelphia 76ers they surpassed the absence of Joel Embiid to beat the Orlando Magic 109-97 on Wednesday night and Secure 7th seed in Eastern Conference playoffs.
The Sixers advanced to a first-round series that begins Sunday in Boston.
Maxey, named an Eastern Conference All-Star starter for the first time in his career, scored seven straight points late in the fourth quarter to give the Sixers some breathing room against a Magic team that squandered the opportunity to play this game at home due to a late collapse in their loss to the Celtics in the regular-season finale.
Maxey had a little more help in the final stretch of the match.
Andre Drummond filled the void left by Embiid with 14 points and 10 rebounds off the bench. Kelly Oubre Jr. scored 19 points and Paul George added 16. George, who served a 25-game suspension this season for failing a drug test, hit a jumper in the third quarter that extended the lead to seven points and caused Orlando to call a timeout.
Later, he managed to recover the ball and gave it to Edgecombe, who dunked on Jalen Suggs – facing him – to make the score 73-62.
Edgecombe, the third overall pick in last year’s draft, was penalized for provocation, and referees had to separate the two teams. Oubre waved his arms toward a roaring crowd, and the Sixers looked ready to extend their lead.
Why didn’t Joel Embiid play?
Joel Embiid underwent an emergency appendectomy last week in Houston. Although the 76ers have not given an estimated time frame for his return, the two-time scoring champion rejoined the team on Wednesday, surprising his teammates in the locker room and watching the game from the bench.
What’s next for the Magic?
Desmond Bane and the Magic aren’t done yet. They will host the Charlotte Hornets on Friday night; the winner will earn the 8th seed in the East and a first-round matchup against the Detroit Pistons.
Bane, who averaged 20.1 points and played in all 82 games, carried Orlando’s offense by scoring 34 points. He hit a 3-pointer that brought Orlando within two points, and Anthony Black hit another 3-pointer that cut the Sixers’ lead to 87-86.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
