The Philadelphia 76ers beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 115-103 on Sunday to retain the fiercely contested No. 6 spot in the Eastern Conference. Paul George and Tyrese Maxey combined for 44 points, 14 assists and 12 rebounds to lead the 76ers to their second straight win. Joel Embiid, who returned from Wednesday’s absence against the Washington Wizards, contributed 19 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists.
Philly trailed 47-42 at halftime but grabbed control of the game after dominating the third quarter 42-24. Minnesota tried to turn the game around, but George and Co. had an answer to every rally attempt.
Eastern Conference Updated Standings
Here is the updated Eastern Conference standings:
The win improved the Philadelphia 76ers’ record to 43-34 with five games remaining in the regular season. Philadelphia and the Toronto Raptors (43-34) have the same record and are tied in the head-to-head series at 2-2, but the former has the edge in the tiebreaker against the latter. The Sixers’ 9-7 division record gives them the upper hand against the No. 7 Raptors’ 4-10 mark.
Philadelphia is ahead of the Charlotte Hornets (42-36), Orlando Magic (41-36) and Miami Heat (40-37) by 1.5, 2.0 and 3.0 games, respectively.
The Sixers are also 1.5 games behind the No. 5 Atlanta Hawks, who swept the season series 4-0 against them. Philly has to end with a better record than Atlanta to gain the higher seed.
Best Case Scenario for Philadelphia 76ers
A guaranteed playoff spot is the best-case scenario for the Philadelphia 76ers. Whether they move up to No. 5 or stay at No. 6, they are in a much better spot than trying to clinch a postseason berth via the hellish play-in tournament.
Every game will be crucial for the 76ers down the stretch. They can’t afford to lose any game, as any of their pursuers could outmuscle them for that coveted outright playoff spot.
Philadelphia 76ers Have Eight-Toughest End-Of-Season Schedule
According to Tankathon, the 76ers have the eighth-toughest schedule in the NBA. They will close the season against teams with a combined winning percentage of .548. In the Eastern Conference, only the Atlanta Hawks, No. 3 on the list, have a more difficult closing slate.
The Sixers will host the Detroit Pistons on Saturday before going on a three-game road trip. Away from home, they will visit the rampaging San Antonio Spurs, the Houston Rockets and the Indiana Fever. Philadelphia will close the season at home against the reeling Milwaukee Bucks.
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