Maxey Shines with 31 Points as Sixers Secure East’s No. 7 Seed

Tyrese Maxey led the Philadelphia offense with 31 points in a 109-97 win over Orlando. VJ Edgecombe added 19 points and pulled down 11 rebounds. The victory locked up the East’s No. 7 seed for Philadelphia.

Late surge seals the result

Maxey shined down the stretch, scoring seven consecutive points in the fourth quarter. Those baskets created separation and eased late-game pressure.

Paul George hit a key fadeaway in the third quarter. That shot helped the Sixers push the margin and force an Orlando timeout.

Momentum swings and physical moments

Edgecombe slammed a dunk that energized the home crowd. He was flagged for taunting, and officials separated players after the play.

Kelly Oubre Jr. fed off the energy and waved to the fans. The sequence helped Philadelphia build a double-digit lead.

Orlando’s effort and key numbers

Desmond Bane paced the Magic with 34 points. He averaged 20.1 points this season and appeared in all 82 games.

Bane knocked down a 3 to cut the deficit late. Anthony Black also buried a triple to make it a one-possession game at 87-86.

Bench impact and injury update

Andre Drummond filled the starting center role with 14 points and 10 rebounds off the bench. His interior presence offset Joel Embiid’s absence.

Embiid underwent an emergency appendectomy in Houston last week. He returned to the team on Wednesday and watched from the bench. The team has not provided a return timetable.

What’s next

Philadelphia begins its first-round series on Sunday in Boston. Orlando still has a chance for the No. 8 seed.

The Magic will host Charlotte on Friday, with the winner drawing Detroit in the opening round. Filmogaz.com will provide further coverage and updates.