Sixers clinch playoff spot

Philadelphia is in the playoffs after beating Orlando 109-97 on April 15 to lock up the Eastern Conference’s No. 7 seed. (nba.com) Tyrese Maxey led the 76ers with 31 points, and rookie V.J. Edgecombe added 19 points and 11 rebounds in the win at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Joel Embiid did not play, and Philadelphia still closed the game with a 30-23 fourth quarter. (apnews.com) Orlando got 34 points from Desmond Bane, but the Magic fell into the second stage of the play-in instead of taking the automatic playoff berth available to the winner of the 7-vs.-8 game. The NBA’s play-in format sends that loser home to host one more elimination game for the No. 8 seed. (espn.com) (nba.com) The result settled a tie that had defined the bottom of the East bracket. Philadelphia and Orlando both finished the regular season 45-37, with the Sixers listed seventh and the Magic eighth entering the tournament. (nba.com) (basketball-reference.com) That made Wednesday’s game a direct path into the main playoff field before the first round opens April 18. Philadelphia’s reward is a series against Boston, the East’s No. 2 seed at 56-26. (nba.com) (basketball-reference.com) The matchup also drops the Sixers straight into one of the conference’s oldest rivalries. CBS Philadelphia reported the first-round series begins Sunday, April 19, in Boston. (cbsnews.com) For Orlando, the loss did not end the season. The Magic move on to a Friday home game against Charlotte for the East’s final playoff spot, with the winner drawing Detroit in the first round. (apnews.com) Philadelphia’s immediate question is whether the roster that got through the play-in without Embiid can hold up against Boston over a full series. The Sixers got the one win they needed Wednesday; now the bracket gets much harder. (apnews.com)