Tyrese Maxey scored 26 points as the Philadelphia 76ers led virtually the entire way in a 107-86 victory over the visiting Brooklyn Nets in the regular-season finale for both teams.
The Sixers (47-35) ended the regular season with eight straight wins and survived another absence by Joel Embiid, who sat out after tweaking his surgically repaired left knee in the first half against Orlando on Friday. Embiid appeared in 39 games and the Sixers went 31-8 when he played.
Philadelphia clinched the seventh seed in the NBA play-in tournament because the Orlando Magic and Indiana Pacers won their games. The Sixers will host the Miami Heat on Wednesday and the winner advances into the main playoff draw.
Maxey, who kept the Sixers afloat during Embiid’s two-month absence, made 10 of 20 shots in 29 minutes and had help from Tobias Harris and Buddy Hield. Harris added 21 and eight rebounds while Hield finished with 19 and seven rebounds.
Paul Reed collected 13 points and 12 rebounds and Cameron Payne chipped in 10 points as the Sixers shot 42.7 percent and outrebounded the Nets 57-42.
The Nets (32-50) lost their second straight and finished with 50 losses for the first time since going 28-54 in 2017-18, which also was the last time they missed the playoffs. Brooklyn started 13-10 but finished 19-40 over its final 59 games and likely will seek a new coach to replace interim coach Kevin Ollie, who took over for Jacque Vaughn in February.
Cam Thomas led the Nets with 18 points and rookie Noah Clowney added 16. Trendon Watford contributed 14 and Lonnie Walker IV finished with 12 as the Nets shot 38.6 percent and misfired on 25 of 34 3-point tries.
After giving up the game’s first seven points, the Nets held a 23-22 lead through the opening quarter when Clowney sank a 3 with 5.1 seconds left. Maxey and Harris sank 3s on consecutive possessions for a 45-34 lead with 4:34 left and the Sixers held a 55-44 lead by halftime.
Harris hit a 3 to put Philadelphia ahead 70-56 with 4:21 left in the third and Hield hit three 3s in the final minute of the third, including a corner 3 at the buzzer for aan 81-64 lead into the fourth.
Philadelphia finished it off when it scored 10 straight points to get a 95-68 lead on Reed’s layup with 7:16 left in the fourth.
–Field Level Media
