04/15/26 09:42:00
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04/15 21:40 CDT Tyrese Maxey scores 31 and Sixers beat Magic 109-97 in play-in
game, advance to series vs. Celtics
Tyrese Maxey scores 31 and Sixers beat Magic 109-97 in play-in game, advance to
series vs. Celtics
By DAN GELSTON
AP Sports Writer
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.
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.
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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
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