Tyrese Maxey delivered a 31-point performance as the Philadelphia 76ers secured a 109-97 victory over the Orlando Magic on Wednesday night, locking in the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Philadelphia, playing without Joel Embiid following his recent appendectomy, leaned on backcourt creation and balanced scoring to control the game late at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Maxey, an Eastern Conference All-Star starter this season, took over in the fourth quarter with seven consecutive points to create separation after Orlando had cut the deficit to one possession.
The Sixers will now face the Boston Celtics in the first round, with Game 1 scheduled for Sunday on the road.
Rookie VJ Edgecombe provided a strong two-way presence with 19 points and 11 rebounds, while Kelly Oubre Jr. added 19 points on efficient shooting, including five made three-pointers.
Paul George contributed 16 points and five assists, helping stabilize the offense in key stretches, while Andre Drummond recorded 14 points and 10 rebounds off the bench to anchor the interior in Embiid’s absence.
Philadelphia shot 45% from the field and 34% from three, while also winning the turnover battle and generating eight steals and nine blocks, reflecting defensive activity across the rotation.
Orlando stayed within reach behind Desmond Bane, who scored a game-high 34 points on 10-of-16 shooting and 10-of-11 from the free-throw line.
The Magic briefly surged in the third quarter when Bane and Anthony Black hit back-to-back threes to trim the deficit to 87-86, but Philadelphia responded with improved spacing and transition execution.
Paolo Banchero struggled with efficiency, finishing with 18 points on 7-of-22 shooting, while Franz Wagner added 12 points and Wendell Carter Jr. controlled the glass with 11 rebounds.
A turning point came late in the third when George’s fadeaway jumper pushed the lead to seven, followed by a defensive play that led to an Edgecombe dunk in transition, extending the margin to double digits.
The sequence included a brief altercation after the rookie’s finish, resulting in a technical foul, but the Sixers maintained composure and carried momentum into the final period.
Orlando shot just 41% from the field and 26% from three, limiting their offensive ceiling despite getting to the free-throw line 31 times.
With the loss, the Magic will host the Charlotte Hornets on Friday for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot, while Philadelphia advances into a matchup against one of the conference’s top defenses.
The Sixers return home for Game 3 on April 24 after opening the series in Boston, with Embiid’s status remaining a key factor moving forward.
