Tyrese Maxey scores 31 and Sixers beat Magic 109-97 in play-in game, advance to series vs. Celtics

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Tyrese Maxey scored 31 points, V.J. Edgecombe added 19 points and 11 rebounds, and the Philadelphia 76ers weathered the absence of Joel Embiid to beat the Orlando Magic 109-97 on Wednesday night and secure the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

The Sixers moved on to a first-round series that begins Sunday at Boston.

Desmond Bane and the Magic aren't done yet. They will host Charlotte on Friday night, with the winner earning the No. 8 seed in the East and a first-round matchup with Detroit.

The Hornets held on to beat Miami 127-126 when Miles Bridges blocked Davion Mitchell’s attempt at a winning layup at the buzzer. Charlotte’s LeMelo Ball will play, although he was fined $35,000 for what the league said was an uncalled flagrant foul when he tripped Bam Adebayo, causing a back injury that forced the Miami star out of the game.

Embiid had an emergency appendectomy last week in Houston. While the 76ers haven’t given a timetable for his return, the two-time scoring champion returned to the team on Wednesday, surprising teammates in the locker room and watching the game from the bench.

Maxey, named an Eastern Conference All-Star starter for the first time in his career, scored seven straight points late in the fourth to give the Sixers some breathing room against a Magic team that wasted a chance to play this game at home with a late collapse in a loss to the Celtics in the season finale.

Bane, who averaged 20.1 points and played all 82 games, carried Orlando's offense with 34 points. He hit a 3 that moved Orlando within two and Anthony Black hit a 3 that pulled the Magic to 87-86.

Maxey had a bit more help down the stretch.

Andre Drummond filled the void left by Embiid with 14 points and 10 rebounds off the bench. Kelly Oubre Jr. scored 19 points and Paul George had 16.

George, who served a 25-game suspension this season for flunking a drug test, hit a fadeaway jumper in the third quarter that stretched the lead to seven and prompted an Orlando timeout. He later popped the ball free and dumped it to Edgecombe, who dunked on — and got in the face of — Jalen Suggs for a 73-62 lead.

Edgecombe, the No. 3 overall pick in last year's draft, was whistled for taunting and officials had to separate the teams. Oubre waved his arms toward a roaring crowd and the Sixers seemed primed to build some separation.

Game 2 is Tuesday in Boston, and the Sixers return home for Game 3 on April 24.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Philadelphia 76ers' Vj Edgecombe goes up for a shot during the first half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game against the Orlando Magic Wednesday, April 15, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Orlando Magic's Anthony Black, left, tries to get past Philadelphia 76ers' Vj Edgecombe during the first half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game Wednesday, April 15, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Philadelphia 76ers' Vj Edgecombe, left, goes up for a shot against Orlando Magic's Paolo Banchero during the first half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game Wednesday, April 15, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Orlando Magic's Franz Wagner, left, is fouled by Philadelphia 76ers' Adem Bona during the first half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game Wednesday, April 15, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Philadelphia 76ers' Paul George, left, tries to get past Orlando Magic's Franz Wagner during the first half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game Wednesday, April 15, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

CHICAGO (AP) — A singer leading the “Jackie Robinson Day” festivities before the Chicago White Sox's game against the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday night collapsed and was taken to a hospital.

The White Sox said Gerald Chaney, a longtime anthem performer, was alert before being taken to the hospital after he collapsed while performing “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” He was a few words into the hymn considered the Black national anthem when he stopped. He started again and collapsed.

Emergency medical technicians tended to Chaney for several minutes before he was loaded onto a gurney and taken from the field. The teams watched from their dugouts.

Chaney was also scheduled to sing “The Star Spangled Banner” after performing “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” The start of the game was delayed 12 minutes.

“The entire White Sox family is sending love to Gerald and his family for a full and speedy recovery,” the team said in a statement.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

People tend to a man who collapsed while singing "Lift Every Voice and Sing" before a baseball game between the Tampa Bay Rays and Chicago White Sox, Wednesday, April 15, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley) CORRECTION: Corrects from Life to Lift

Tampa Bay Rays' Jonathan Aranda socks with number 42 for Jackie Robinson Day before a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Wednesday, April 15, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

The Tampa Bay Rays stands for the Star-Spangled Banner on Jackie Robinson Day before a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Wednesday, April 15, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)