PHILADELPHIA — Overcoming a Joel Embiid injury scare and a fourth-quarter onslaught from the Orlando Magic, the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Magic 125-113 here at Wells Fargo and advanced to Eastern Conference play-in. He took an important step towards escaping from the war. Center on Friday night.
Philadelphia (46-35) has now won seven straight games and is tied with the Magic (currently on a three-game losing streak) for sixth place in the Eastern Conference standings with just Sunday's game remaining. But that quickly faded into the background late in the second quarter, when Embiid, playing in his fifth game since returning from left meniscus surgery last month, limped off and grabbed his left knee after making a basket. I said.
However, Embiid quickly walked to the locker room before returning at the start of the second half to hit a 3-pointer, ultimately finishing with 32 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists in 32 minutes. He was assisted by co-star Tyrese Maxey, including several back-to-back buckets in the final five minutes after Orlando trailed by six points, giving the 76ers the breathing room they needed to win this game. He finished with 28 points. Outside.
But Friday's game here is one of several in both conferences that will have a big impact on how the playoffs play out, with Friday's game opening with just a 3 seed decided and a basketball regular. This was because there were only two days left in the season.
The game that had the biggest direct impact on what happened here on Friday was in Cleveland, where the Cavaliers got 33 points from Donovan Mitchell and 29 points and 13 rebounds from Jarrett Allen, defeating the Indiana Pacers. He had a chance to break through and rise to the top. The No. 2 seed will also win against Charlotte on Sunday.
Meanwhile, in New York, the Knicks defeated crosstown rival Brooklyn Nets 111-107, moving them at least one step closer to clinching the No. 3 seed in the East. Now, New York needs a win against Chicago on Sunday at Madison Square Garden to at least clinch the No. 3 seed. Here's how the Eastern Conference stands heading into Sunday's final day of the regular season.
– Boston is locked in as the top seed.
– If Milwaukee wins against Orlando, it will become the No. 2 seed. That will happen if New York beats Chicago and Orlando beats Milwaukee. If Cleveland wins against Charlotte and both New York and Milwaukee lose, it will be the championship.
– If the Bucks and Knicks both win, New York will be the No. 3 seed. If the Knicks win and the Bucks and Cavaliers lose, Milwaukee will be the No. 3 seed. If the Cavaliers win, the Knicks win, and the Bucks lose, Cleveland will be the No. 3 seed.
– If Cleveland loses or the Cavaliers, Bucks, and Knicks all win, Cleveland will be the No. 4 seed. If New York and Cleveland win and the Bucks lose, Milwaukee will take fourth place. If the Knicks and Bucks lose and the Cavaliers win, New York will take fourth place.
– If Orlando wins against Milwaukee, they will win the Southeast Division and finish in 5th place. If Indiana wins against Atlanta and Orlando loses, they will finish in fifth place. If Philadelphia wins and Indiana and Orlando lose, they will finish in fifth place.
– If Indiana wins and Orlando wins, they'll finish in 6th place. If Philadelphia wins and Indiana or Orlando loses, they will finish in 6th place.
– If Philadelphia wins and Orlando and Indiana both win, they'll finish in 7th place. If the Heat beat the Toronto Raptors, the 76ers and Pacers win, and the Magic lose, Miami would finish in seventh place.
– Miami will either lose or finish in 8th place if the Heat, Magic, 76ers and Pacers all win.
– Chicago is set to finish 9th and Atlanta is confirmed to finish 10th.