The Philadelphia 76ers erased a double-digit second-half deficit Saturday night, defeating the Charlotte Hornets 118-114 at Spectrum Center behind strong performances from Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey.
Philadelphia improved to 41-33 with its fourth win in five games. The victory pushed the Sixers two games ahead of Charlotte in the race for the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference standings.
Embiid led the way with 29 points on 8-of-19 shooting while converting 10 of 13 free throws. The center scored 21 points in the first half to keep Philadelphia within reach.
George delivered a two-way performance with 26 points, 13 rebounds, four steals and a key late three-pointer. His shot with 1:04 remaining gave the Sixers the lead for good in a tightly contested fourth quarter.
Maxey returned to the starting lineup after missing time with a tendon injury in his right pinkie finger. The guard finished with 26 points, eight assists and seven rebounds in 43 minutes.
Philadelphia shot 49% from the field and 47% from three-point range, hitting 16 of its 34 attempts from deep. The visitors also converted 22 of 29 free throws in a game that featured nine lead changes in the final eight minutes.
Charlotte started fast and built early momentum. The Hornets led 36-25 after the first quarter behind strong perimeter shooting.
The Sixers responded with a 39-point second quarter to close the gap before halftime. Philadelphia trailed 69-64 at the break despite Embiid’s early scoring surge.
Charlotte extended its advantage midway through the third quarter with an 11-0 run. The burst pushed the lead to 15 points and forced Philadelphia to regroup defensively.
The Sixers answered by tightening their defense and attacking the paint. Philadelphia trimmed the deficit to 97-92 entering the fourth quarter.
The game shifted in the final period when the Sixers took their first lead with 8:51 remaining. Both teams exchanged baskets down the stretch as the outcome remained uncertain.
George’s late three-pointer proved decisive. Charlotte had two chances to tie the game, but LaMelo Ball missed consecutive three-point attempts in the closing seconds.
Brandon Miller led the Hornets with 29 points and eight rebounds while knocking down five three-pointers. Ball added 20 points and eight assists despite shooting 7-of-26 from the field.
Moussa Diabate contributed 10 points and 11 rebounds, and Coby White scored 16 points off the bench. Charlotte shot 38% overall and 31% from three-point range.
Philadelphia’s trio of Embiid, George and Maxey combined for 81 points, providing the scoring punch needed to overcome Charlotte’s early lead.
The Sixers will visit the Miami Heat on Monday as they continue their push in the Eastern Conference playoff race. Charlotte returns home Sunday night to face the Boston Celtics.
