Standings Update: Raptors collapse at home to the Kings, Sixers move up to the No. 6 seed

Paul George put the team on his back in Washington on Wednesday night and the Sixers are back where they need to be. 39 points on 15-for-22 shooting, six assists, five rebounds, three steals, zero turnovers in 30 minutes. No Embiid. On the road. Against a team that needed to be handled. They handled it. Final score 153-131.

A Paul George Masterclass: 39 PTS | 6 AST | 6 3PM

this is what we like to call a masterclass. 🤌

39 PTS | 6 AST | 6 3PM@PALottery pic.twitter.com/Vdyco2rv6f

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) April 2, 2026

Paul George dropped 39 and the Sixers are out of the play-in >>

The Sixers are 42-34, the sixth seed, out of the play-in, and holding the tiebreaker over Toronto who is tied with them at the same record. Six games left.

It has been a ride getting here. The historic blowout of the Bulls when Embiid and George came back. The gritty comeback from 15 down in Charlotte with the full lineup for the first time all season. The choke job in Miami where they led by four with eight minutes left and lost by ten. And then Wednesday, Paul George went to Washington and reminded everybody exactly what this team looks like when someone decides the moment belongs to them.

Minnesota is Friday. That is the next one.

Updated Sixers Standings

• 5th — Hawks (44-33) — 8-2 L10, W3
• 6th — 76ers (42-34) ← us — 7-3 L10, W1
• 7th — Raptors (42-34) — 5-5 L10, L2
• 8th — Hornets (40-36) — 7-3 L10
• 9th — Magic (40-36) — 2-8 L10
• 10th — Heat (40-37) — 2-8 L10

The Sixers and Raptors are dead even at 42-34 but Philadelphia holds the tiebreaker which is why they sit at sixth and Toronto sits at seventh. The Raptors are on a two-game losing streak and have gone just 5-5 in their last ten.

The Sixers are 7-3 in their last ten and trending up. This spot is theirs to lose. The Hawks are two games up at 44-33 and on a three-game win streak. They are probably out of reach. The realistic ceiling is the sixth seed which Philadelphia currently owns.

Below the line the Magic and Heat are both 2-8 in their last ten and in complete freefall.

The play-in threat is gone.

Sixers Remaining Schedule

• Thu Apr 3 — vs Timberwolves (44-28) — Big home game
• Fri Apr 4 — at Pistons (55-21) — Tough
• Sun Apr 6 — at Spurs (53-18) — Tough
• Wed Apr 9 — at Rockets (43-27) — Competitive
• Thu Apr 10 — at Pacers (15-57) — Winnable
• Sat Apr 12 — vs Bucks (29-41) — Winnable

Friday’s Timberwolves game is the one. Minnesota is a 44-win team and a legitimate Western Conference playoff squad. But this is at home, the full lineup is healthy, and the Sixers are playing their best basketball of the season. Win this and they enter the brutal road stretch at 43-34 with real momentum and a two-game cushion over Toronto.

Then the gauntlet. At Detroit Saturday, at San Antonio Monday, at Houston Thursday. Three road games in six days against elite competition. Detroit and San Antonio are likely losses. The Rockets on April 9 is the swing game. Steal that one and the final record looks very good. Pacers and Bucks to close. Both winnable, both expected.

Projection is 4-2. Losses at Detroit and San Antonio. Win everything else and the Sixers finish 46-36, locked into the sixth seed and a first-round matchup with the Knicks.

The Playoff Picture

• 3-3 finish → 45-37: Hold the sixth seed, first round vs. the Knicks. Minimum acceptable outcome.
• 4-2 finish → 46-36: Comfortably lock up sixth, first round vs. the Knicks. Realistic target.
• 5-1 finish → 47-35: Push for the fifth seed, first round vs. the Cavaliers. Requires Atlanta to stumble but not impossible.

The Raptors are the team to watch. Tied with Philly and on a two-game losing streak. If the Sixers win Friday and Toronto loses the gap becomes two games with five left. Essentially over. That is the scenario to chase.

Nobody in the Eastern Conference wants to draw a healthy Sixers team right now. The Pistons, Celtics, Knicks, and Cavaliers have spent all season playing against a diminished version of this roster. They have not seen Embiid, George, and Maxey healthy together for an extended stretch. That changes in the first round and that is a problem for whoever draws them.

Six games left. Direct playoff spot. Full roster. The Sixers have been written off more times this season than any team deserves and they have answered every time. Friday night against Minnesota is the next answer they need to give.

Good luck to whoever is waiting.

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