Maxey delivers in Indy, Raptors lose and the Sixers are improbably alive for a direct playoff spot

Sixers win in Indy. Tyrese Maxey played 32 points worth of basketball on a taped-up pinky finger, went to the locker room in the third quarter after taking a hit to that same finger, came back out with 10 minutes left, and finished the job. That is the entire story of Friday night in Indiana and it is a good one.

Tyrese Maxey: 32 PTS | 8 REB | 5 AST

a little bit of everything from @TyreseMaxey

32 PTS | 8 REB | 5 AST@PALottery pic.twitter.com/04gZy9QSA5

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) April 11, 2026

Paul George got back on track after a rough night in Houston with 21 points. Edgecombe put up 16 points, nine rebounds, five assists, and three steals.

Andre Drummond was a force in 29 minutes and the Sixers outscored Indiana by 24 points during his time on the floor.

Oubre had four steals and seven across the back-to-back. Final score 105-94 without Joel Embiid on the road in the penultimate game of the regular season.

Then the Raptors lost to the Knicks.

The Sixers are technically, barely, improbably still alive for a direct playoff spot. One game left. The math exists, but it requires things to go right that may not go right.

It still exists though, so here’s what we’re looking at.

Sixers Updated Standings

• 5th: Hawks (46-35), 1 game left
• 6th: Raptors (45-36), 1 game left vs Nets at home
• 7th: Magic (45-36), 1 game left at Celtics
• 8th: 76ers (44-37), that’s us, 1 game left vs Bucks at home
• 9th: Hornets (43-38), 1 game left at Knicks
• 10th: Heat (42-39), 1 game left

The Sixers cannot finish below the 8th seed. The Hornets are a full game back with one to play and cannot catch Philadelphia regardless of what happens Sunday.

The play-in is locked in. The only question is which seed.

Jumping to sixth requires winning Sunday and getting two specific results. Toronto needs to lose to Brooklyn at home which is very unlikely. Orlando needs to lose to Boston on the road against a 55-26 Celtics team which has a better chance of happening. Either way, both need to lose for the Sixers to get to 6th seed.

It is unlikely. It is not impossible.

Sunday April 12 at home vs the Bucks (29-42), 6 PM. Milwaukee is playing out the string.

This is a mandatory win.

Lose this and the Sixers finish 44-38, enter the postseason on a two-game losing streak, and put themselves in a worse play-in spot. That cannot happen. Win and finish 45-37. If the other results cooperate, a direct playoff spot is there. If not, 7th or 8th seed in the play-in, which is almost certainly where this ends.

The Play-In Picture

7 vs 8, winner faces the second seed. Loser gets another chance against the winner of the 9-10 game. Without Embiid, winning a one-game elimination setting requires George and Maxey to be simultaneously at their best.

Hard to have faith, but when there’s nothing else, what choice do we have?

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