In the 109-97 victory over the Magic, Tyrese Maxey delivered a star-making performance without Embiid, finishing with 31 points in 42 minutes along with six assists and two rebounds. The win kept Philadelphia’s playoff push on track, though Embiid remains sidelined while recovering from appendicitis.
The Celtics closed the regular season 56-26 and earned the No. 2 seed, a run aided by Jayson Tatum’s absence for a portion of the year and Jaylen Brown’s rise as a leading scorer. Boston’s depth and experience have long been a defining edge in these matchups.
ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith offered a blunt assessment, arguing that Philly fans will regret chanting for a Boston upset. He stressed that Boston remains a formidable opponent, even with Embiid unlikely to play, and noted the Celtics’ playoff pedigree and resilience as reasons to doubt a Sixers upset.
Embiid’s status remains unclear. Diagnosed with appendicitis last week, he is one week post-surgery and was ruled out for the Play-In; officials have not set a firm timeline for his return, with a final update expected on Saturday ahead of Game 1.
The Sixers will travel to Boston for Game 1 on Sunday, while Orlando shifts to a Friday matchup with the Charlotte Hornets. Philadelphia’s success in Embiid’s absence will be tested against a Celtics team that has routinely posed a challenge in the postseason. Maxey’s play will be a critical factor as the series unfolds.
