Tyrese Maxey scores 31 and Sixers beat Magic 109-97 in play-in game, advance to series vs. Celtics.

Tyrese Maxey led the Philadelphia 76ers with 31 points as they defeated the Orlando Magic 109–97 in a play-in game on Wednesday night, securing the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. With Joel Embiid sidelined following an emergency appendectomy, Philadelphia relied on a balanced effort to close out the win and advance to a first-round series against the Boston Celtics beginning Sunday. V.J. Edgecombe contributed 19 points and 11 rebounds, while Andre Drummond stepped up in Embiid’s absence with 14 points and 10 rebounds off the bench. Kelly Oubre Jr. added 19 points, and Paul George scored 16, including key plays that helped the Sixers maintain control in the second half. Orlando was led by Desmond Bane, who scored 34 points and kept the Magic competitive, including a late 3-pointer that cut the deficit to two. However, Philadelphia responded in the closing minutes, with Maxey scoring seven straight points to help secure separation and the win. The game featured several momentum swings, including a brief Magic rally in the fourth quarter, but the Sixers pulled away late.

Edgecombe’s emphatic dunk in the third quarter further energized Philadelphia’s crowd, though it also resulted in a taunting technical foul after tensions briefly escalated.

With the victory, Philadelphia advances to face Boston, while Orlando moves to a final play-in opportunity for the No. 8 seed.