It wasn’t the prettiest game of the year, but the Sixers won’t care. They needed a victory, and they got it. With Tyrese Maxey in control and plenty of energy, Philadelphia books a first-round matchup with Boston.

The spotlight belongs to the Kentucky product, who delivered 31 points and 6 assists in 42 minutes. A solid, composed performance, with no unnecessary forced shots.

Alongside him, rookie VJ Edgecombe once again impressed, finishing with 19 points and 11 reboundsshowing poise in a high-pressure environment.

After the game, he admitted with a smile:

Nick Nurse: “It wasn’t pretty, but we’re here”

Head coach Nick Nurse emphasized the team’s spirit more than the quality of the performance:

Joel Embiid remains a question mark

The situation surrounding Joel Embiid remains central, as he is still out following emergency appendix surgery. His presence on the bench is a positive sign, but his return timeline is still uncertain.

With three days of rest before Game 1, the Sixers are hoping to get their leader back, but the series against the Boston Celtics could begin without him.

Paul George warns: “Boston is a perfect machine”

Looking ahead, Paul George is under no illusions about the difficulty of the matchup:

Now the level rises significantly. Boston is a different story, and Philadelphia knows it. With or without Embiid they will need something more than what they showed against Orlando.