The Philadelphia 76ers still had hopes of making the NBA Playoffs as the sixth seed heading into their season finale against the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday, April 12.
If the Sixers secured a victory over the Milwaukee Bucks, that would be the first of three factors to check off the list.
The Sixers dominated the Bucks on Sunday by picking up a 126-106 win in South Philly.
Tyrese Maxey led the way with a 21-point effort in 27 minutes. The second-year forward Justin Edwards had an impressive outing off the bench. He knocked down 5-8 shots from three, producing 17 points.
The veteran guard Quentin Grimes checked in for 28 minutes. He shot 7-13 from the field to score 20 points.
No Favors Across The Eastern Conference
While the Sixers did what they had to do–one of the other two situations didn’t play out the way they had hoped.
A Toronto Raptors and Orlando Magic loss would’ve helped the Sixers seal the deal. The Raptors destroyed the Brooklyn Nets with a 136-101 win.
While that prevented the Sixers from having a chance at avoiding the Play-In, the Magic-Celtics game was still relevant. A Boston victory would help the Sixers host the first Play-In game, battling for the seventh seed.
The Sixers-Magic Play-In Details
The Celtics picked up a shorthanded win over the Magic. With that, the 76ers will get an opportunity to host their Play-In game this week.
The Sixers and the Magic will battle it out for the seventh seed on Wednesday, April 15. The game is set to tip off at 7:30 PM ET. The loser of the game will battle for the eighth seed at 7:30 PM ET on Friday, April 17.
For the second time in three years, the Sixers need to go through the NBA Play-In Tournament in order to crack a playoff spot.
During the 2023-2024 NBA season, the Sixers met with the Miami Heat in South Philly to fight for the seventh seed. The 76ers got the job done, which picked up a first-round series with the New York Knicks. The Sixers fell short with a 4-2 loss in round one.
In the following year, the Sixers missed the postseason. By keeping their lottery pick, they ended up with VJ Edgecombe out of Baylor. Now, they hope that Edgecombe can make an impact in their upcoming postseason run.