PHILADELPHIA — Tyrese Maxey and his 76ers teammates despatched feelers out to Joel Embiid concerning the recovering All-Star heart attending the play-in recreation.

Embiid had been absent since his emergency appendectomy final week and the Sixers thought it could elevate his spirits if he was a part of their playoff push. Not sure of his reply hours forward of tipoff Wednesday evening towards Orlando, Embiid shocked his teammates by strolling into the locker room about an hour earlier than the sport. He supplied an emotional enhance to Maxey and the Sixers simply by exhibiting up.

“I gave him an enormous hug,” Maxey mentioned. “I used to be glad to see him.”

Maxey took over within the fourth quarter, a lot the way in which Embiid did in so many essential video games through the years.

Maxey scored 31 factors, and V.J. Edgecombe added 19 factors and 11 rebounds within the Sixers’ 109-97 win over the Magic that gave Philadelphia the No. 7 seed within the Japanese Convention playoffs.

The Sixers start their first-round collection Sunday at Boston.

Maxey, named an All-Star starter for the primary time in his profession, scored seven straight factors late within the fourth to assist the Sixers put away the Magic.

“It was simply me deciding I needed to be aggressive,” Maxey mentioned. “I had some actually attractiveness that I missed early within the third, that I made within the first half. So I used to be simply actually assured I used to be going to make some pictures.”

Maxey — the Sixers’ profession 3-point chief — hit three 3s and made 11 of 25 pictures because the Sixers made the playoffs a yr after they went 24-58.

“He is been doing a little bit of that recently so far as understanding we want form of his greatness on the proper time,” coach Nick Nurse mentioned.

The Sixers had leaned on Embiid’s greatness through the years — but additionally got here to know that enjoying with out the oft-injured former MVP is a part of the deal in Philadelphia.

The crew hasn’t given a timetable for Embiid’s return from his appendectomy. The 2-time scoring champion sat in on a video session Wednesday and watched the sport from the bench.

Maxey goes to wish to excel for the Sixers to have a shot towards the Celtics.

Sixers followers chanted “We wish Boston!” within the waning moments, however it is perhaps finest to pay heed to collection historical past — the 76ers have misplaced their final six playoff collection towards the Celtics. Philadelphia final topped Boston in a collection in 1982.

That is a fear for the following follow. Maxey walked off the courtroom to a roaring crowd — together with Allen Iverson — and teammates swarmed him to indicate their appreciation.

“I promised some guys we have been going to get within the playoffs,” Maxey mentioned.

One shiny spot out of final season’s dismal end was getting the No. 3 choose within the draft. The Sixers — who drafted a string of busts throughout their prolonged rebuild — seem to have made a sensible transfer by choosing Edgecombe out of Baylor.

The 20-year-old opened the season with 34 factors towards Boston, the third-most factors for an NBA participant in his first recreation. He was simply as spectacular in his first play-in recreation with 19 factors and 11 rebounds.

Edgecombe was whistled for taunting after a dunk within the third quarter and officers needed to separate the groups.

“I used to be tweaking a bit bit tonight,” Edgecombe mentioned. “I assume it occurs once you let a child play such a high-intensity recreation. I used to be on the market having enjoyable. If I’ve obtained to play wild for us to win, I will play wild.”

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