76ers clinch seventh seed
Tyrese Maxey leads Philadelphia past Orlando in play-in win
Tyrese Maxey scored 11 of his team‑high 31 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a 109‑97 victory over the Orlando Magic in a play‑in game, clinching the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. The 76ers finished the regular season 45‑37 and will meet the second‑seeded Boston Celtics in a best‑of‑seven opening round. Orlando, also 45‑37 but losing the tiebreaker to Philadelphia, must now play the Charlotte Hornets in a play‑in game for the eighth seed.
VJ Edgecombe (19 points, 11 rebounds) and reserve Andre Drummond (14 points, 10 rebounds) each recorded double‑doubles for Philadelphia. Kelly Oubre Jr. added 19 points and Paul George contributed 16. Desmond Bane led the Magic with 34 points, with Paolo Banchero scoring 18 and Anthony Black adding 13 off the bench; Franz Wagner had 12.
The game was tightly contested early—neither side led by more than six in the first half—before Philadelphia pulled ahead in the third quarter. Edgecombe’s 3‑pointer flipped the lead and sparked a 14‑2 run that set the tone, though Orlando closed the quarter to stay within striking distance. In the fourth, Maxey’s late scoring burst, including seven unanswered points that made it 94‑86, blunted Magic comeback attempts and helped the 76ers maintain a multi‑point margin the rest of the way.
Coach Nick Nurse framed the result as hard‑earned: after preseason expectations of a steep climb, the team fought to secure a postseason spot following last year’s absence. For Orlando, Bane acknowledged frustration but emphasized the opportunity ahead in the remaining play‑in matchup at home. The 76ers now prepare for a challenging series against Boston, aiming to translate late‑season resilience and Maxey’s leadership into postseason success.
