Maxey delivers late as Sixers lock up No. 7 seed

PHILADELPHIA --Tyrese Maxeyscored 31 points,VJ Edgecombeadded 19 points and 11 rebounds, and thePhiladelphia 76ersweathered the absence ofJoel Embiidto beat theOrlando Magic109-97 on Wednesday night and secure the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

The Sixers moved on to a first-round series that begins Sunday at the second-seededBoston Celtics.

Desmond Baneand the Magic aren't done yet. They will host theCharlotte Hornetson Friday night, with the winner earning the No. 8 seed in the East and a first-round matchup with the top-seededDetroit Pistons.

Embiid had an emergency appendectomy last week in Houston. Though the 76ers haven't disclosed a timetable for his return, the two-time scoring champion was back with the team Wednesday, surprising teammates in the locker room and watching the game from the bench.

Maxey, named an Eastern Conference All-Star starter for the first time in his career, scored seven straight points late in the fourth to give the Sixers some breathing room against a Magic team that wasted a chance to play this game at home with a late collapse in a loss to the Celtics in the season finale.

Bane, who averaged 20.1 points and played all 82 games, carried Orlando's offense with 34 points. He hit a 3 that moved Orlando to within two at 83-81 andAnthony Blackhit a 3 that pulled the Magic to within one at 87-86.

Maxey had a bit more help down the stretch.

Andre Drummondfilled the void left by Embiid with 14 points and 10 rebounds off the bench.Kelly Oubre Jr. scored 19 points andPaul Georgehad 16.

George, who served a25-game suspensionthis season for failing a drug test, hit a fadeaway jumper in the third quarter that stretched the lead to seven and prompted an Orlando timeout. He later popped the ball free and dumped it to Edgecombe, who dunked on -- and got in the face of --Jalen Suggsfor a 73-62 lead.

Edgecombe, the No. 3 pick in last year's draft, was whistled for taunting and officials had to separate the teams. Oubre waved his arms toward a roaring crowd and the Sixers seemed primed to build some separation.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.