Tyrese Maxey scores 31 and Sixers
beat Magic 109-97 in play-in game, advance to series vs. Celtics
[April 16, 2026]
By DAN GELSTON
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Tyrese Maxey scored 31 points, V.J. Edgecombe
added 19 points and 11 rebounds, and the Philadelphia 76ers
weathered the absence of Joel Embiid to beat the Orlando Magic
109-97 on Wednesday night and secure the No. 7 seed in the Eastern
Conference playoffs.
The Sixers moved on to a first-round series that begins Sunday at
Boston.
Desmond Bane and the Magic aren't done yet. They will host Charlotte
on Friday night, with the winner earning the No. 8 seed in the East
and a first-round matchup with Detroit.
The Hornets held on to beat Miami 127-126 when Miles Bridges blocked
Davion Mitchell’s attempt at a winning layup at the buzzer.
Charlotte’s LeMelo Ball will play, although he was fined $35,000 for
what the league said was an uncalled flagrant foul when he tripped
Bam Adebayo, causing a back injury that forced the Miami star out of
the game.
Embiid had an emergency appendectomy last week in Houston. While the
76ers haven’t given a timetable for his return, the two-time scoring
champion returned to the team on Wednesday, surprising teammates in
the locker room and watching the game from the bench.
Maxey, named an Eastern Conference All-Star starter for the first
time in his career, scored seven straight points late in the fourth
to give the Sixers some breathing room against a Magic team that
wasted a chance to play this game at home with a late collapse in a
loss to the Celtics in the season finale.
Bane, who averaged 20.1 points and played all 82 games, carried
Orlando's offense with 34 points. He hit a 3 that moved Orlando
within two and Anthony Black hit a 3 that pulled the Magic to 87-86.
[to top of second column] |
Philadelphia 76ers' Paul George, left, tries to get past Orlando
Magic's Franz Wagner during the first half of an NBA play-in
tournament basketball game Wednesday, April 15, 2026, in
Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Maxey had a bit more help down the stretch.
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 had 16.
George, who served a 25-game suspension this season for flunking a
drug test, hit a fadeaway jumper in the third quarter that stretched
the lead to seven and prompted an Orlando timeout. He later popped
the ball free and dumped it to Edgecombe, who dunked on — and got in
the face of — Jalen Suggs for a 73-62 lead.
Edgecombe, the No. 3 overall pick in last year's draft, was whistled
for taunting and officials had to separate the teams. Oubre waved
his arms toward a roaring crowd and the Sixers seemed primed to
build some separation.
Up next
Game 2 is Tuesday in Boston, and the Sixers return home for Game 3
on April 24.
All contents © copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved |
