04/16/26 09:00:00
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04/15 23:41 CDT Joel Embiid provides an emotional lift and Tyrese Maxey carries
the 76ers into the playoffs
Joel Embiid provides an emotional lift and Tyrese Maxey carries the 76ers into
the playoffs
By DAN GELSTON
AP Sports Writer
PHILADELPHIA (AP) --- Tyrese Maxey and his 76ers teammates sent feelers out to
Joel Embiid about the recovering All-Star center attending the play-in game.
Embiid had been absent since his emergency appendectomy last week and the
Sixers thought it would lift his spirits if he was part of their playoff push.
Unsure of his answer hours ahead of tipoff Wednesday night against Orlando,
Embiid surprised his teammates by walking into the locker room about an hour
before the game. He provided an emotional boost to Maxey and the Sixers just by
showing up.
"I gave him a big hug," Maxey said. "I was glad to see him."
Maxey took over in the fourth quarter, much the way Embiid did in so many
crucial games over the years.
Maxey scored 31 points, and V.J. Edgecombe added 19 points and 11 rebounds in
the Sixers' 109-97 win over the Magic that gave Philadelphia the No. 7 seed in
the Eastern Conference playoffs.
The Sixers begin their first-round series Sunday at Boston.
Maxey, named an All-Star starter for the first time in his career, scored seven
straight points late in the fourth to help the Sixers put away the Magic.
"It was just me deciding I wanted to be aggressive," Maxey said. "I had some
really good looks that I missed early in the third, that I made in the first
half. So I was just really confident I was going to make some shots."
Maxey --- the Sixers' career 3-point leader --- hit three 3s and made 11 of 25
shots as the Sixers made the playoffs a year after they went 24-58.
"He's been doing a bit of that lately as far as understanding we need kind of
his greatness at the right time," coach Nick Nurse said.
The Sixers had leaned on Embiid's greatness over the years --- but also came to
understand that playing without the oft-injured former MVP is part of the deal
in Philadelphia.
The team hasn't given a timetable for Embiid's return from his appendectomy.
The two-time scoring champion sat in on a video session Wednesday and watched
the game from the bench.
Maxey is going to need to excel for the Sixers to have a shot against the
Celtics.
Sixers fans chanted "We want Boston!" in the waning moments, but it might be
best to pay heed to series history --- the 76ers have lost their last six
playoff series against the Celtics. Philadelphia last topped Boston in a series
in 1982.
That's a worry for the next practice. Maxey walked off the court to a roaring
crowd --- including Allen Iverson --- and teammates swarmed him to show their
appreciation.
"I promised some guys we were going to get in the playoffs," Maxey said.
One bright spot out of last season's dismal finish was getting the No. 3 pick
in the draft. The Sixers --- who drafted a string of busts during their lengthy
rebuild --- appear to have made a wise move by selecting Edgecombe out of
Baylor.
The 20-year-old opened the season with 34 points against Boston, the third-most
points for an NBA player in his first game. He was just as impressive in his
first play-in game with 19 points and 11 rebounds.
Edgecombe was whistled for taunting after a dunk in the third quarter and
officials had to separate the teams.
"I was tweaking a little bit tonight," Edgecombe said. "I guess it happens when
you let a kid play such a high-intensity game. I was out there having fun. If
I've got to play wild for us to win, I'll play wild."
___
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