Imago
Unlicensed
Imago
Unlicensed
The atmosphere inside the Wells Fargo Center on Wednesday night felt more like a Game 7 thriller than a play-in game. Despite the looming shadow of an injury-depleted roster, the Philadelphia 76ers relied on a relentless defensive effort and the brilliance of Tyrese Maxey to secure a 109-97 victory, exposing the Orlando Magic’s many weaknesses. But that wasn’t the only highlight from the game, and the fans played an equal role from the stands.
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Philly’s battle cry powers 76ers to playoffs
As the final minutes ticked off the clock and the 12-point lead became insurmountable, the Philadelphia faithful sent a clear message to the rest of the league. A roaring chant of “We want Boston” erupted from the stands. Well, Philly asked, Philly got. The chants had a provocative way of manifesting the 76ers facing their next biggest rival after the New York Knicks – the second-seeded Boston Celtics.
The Sixers have lost their last six playoff series against the Celtics. So, this is definitely some big bravado by an entire city. However, the last playoffs didn’t have the ‘VJ-Max’ combo. We’ll have to see if Philadelphia’s declaration of war will turn into a redemption against Boston in the first round of the playoffs.
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Sixers fans chanting
We want Boston pic.twitter.com/uoDj9iFwKz
— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) April 16, 2026
The two teams have played four times this season. Each team has won two games, setting up a potentially entertaining playoff series, though it will most likely be without Philadelphia star Joel Embiid.
Joel Embiid’s surprise spark lit up the 76ers’ bench
The most electric moment of the night arguably occurred before the opening tip. Despite earlier reports from insiders like Shams Charania stating that Joel Embiid was in the “early stages” of recovery from an emergency appendectomy, The Process made a surprise appearance on the 76ers’ bench. Dressed in street clothes but vocal throughout the night, Embiid’s presence served as a massive emotional catalyst for the home crowd and his teammates.
When asked if Embiid’s presence was felt, Tyrese Maxey had an emphatic response. “Huge man, huge,” Maxey said. “Kyle called me two days ago, so Monday, he called me. He said, ‘Man, what do you think about Joel coming to the game?’ Like it would just be a huge lift. I’m like, ‘Yeah, I mean, if he can, he’s up to it.’ And we didn’t even ask him, I said, ‘Just if he can, he will.’ And he was there, you know what I mean? I talked to him via phone, and I was surprised to see him there. I gave him a big hug. I was glad to see him, and his spirits are high, so we’re happy for him.”
Joel Embiid does not look good on the 76ers bench:
– He has played in 51% of games in his career.
– Never played more than 68 games in his career. pic.twitter.com/ZHCzLZBIch— SM Highlights (@SMHighlights1) April 16, 2026
Nick Nurse also said that his presence was a mood booster, telling reporters, “Was questionable whether he was going to be able to get here tonight because of some of the stuff they’re doing. The film started, and I looked over, and he was sitting in his seat, big smile on his face. Most of the other guys didn’t know he was there either.”
Embiid’s participation was limited to coaching from the sidelines, but his impact was evident in his teammates’ performance on the floor. Nurse mentioned that his franchise star told him he was “good.” That recovery timeline, though, is not going to be straightforward. Along with a 10 to 14-day rest period without any physical activity, the big man needs to then become game-ready, and that’ll likely take another 10 days. Considering the several other injuries Embiid has faced this season, limiting him to only 38 regular-season games, his teammates will have to do the heavy lifting on this one.
Tyrese Maxey takes the reins
The team’s All-Star, Tyrese Maxey, responded with a performance for the ages. He scored a team-high 31 points to lead the Sixers to an almost improbable 109-97 victory. The Sixers’ career 3-point leader hit three 3s and made 11 of 25 shots. Maxey’s double cross and stepback three over Wendell Carter Jr. stood out as his best triple of the night.
Tonight also reinforced that Philly is in the Maxey-Edgecombe era. Rookie VJ Edgecombe’s 19 points and 11 rebounds added to the collective impact in the backcourt. While VJ forced turnovers, Maxey’s seven consecutive points in the final quarter secured the lead that Magic couldn’t close.
Paolo Banchero and Jamahl Mosley face the pressure
Paolo Banchero’s season-long struggles from the three and with turnovers manifested once more. His shooting was so bad, he accidentally hit a fan. Nick Nurse’s rotation constantly targeted his weakness and he had no answer. Banchero finished with 18 points on a dismal 7 of 22 shooting, struggling to find his typical mid-range touch. “Just a frustrating night for sure for me,” Banchero admitted in the post-game press conference. “At the end of the day, I’ve been through slumps before and so you’ve gotta be able to respond in a way where it results in a win.”
Paolo Banchero threw a pass so bad he hit a lady in the head 😭 pic.twitter.com/9ItWq6UY2o
— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) April 16, 2026
Desmond Bane dropped 34 points, remaining the only bright spot in Orlando’s lineup. It was his 13th 30+ point game of the season. His performance will be crucial to the Magic’s last chance to make it to the postseason on Friday. Their offense stalled in the second half under the pressure VJ Edgecombe exerted. A problem that Magic fans are blaming head coach Jamahl Mosley for. Before this game, an insider report claimed an unnamed Orlando player would demand a trade if Mosley wasn’t fired. But would a win have perhaps flipped that narrative? After consecutive playoff disappointments and a 45-37 record this season, it seems not.
“Orlando, with Jamahl Mosley, is almost certainly going to be making a coaching change no matter how the Magic’s Play-In appearance starting with their game at Philadelphia on Wednesday, no matter if they make it into the Playoffs, there is a healthy amount of thought around the league that Jamahl Mosley will no longer be coaching the Orlando Magic next season,” Insider Jake Fischer said on his Bleacher Report livestream.
So, to sum it all up, last night’s win officially puts the Sixers at No.7, setting up a collision course with a familiar postseason foe, while the Magic are forced into a win-or-go-home Friday finale.
