76Ers rally past hornets, extend playoff hopes

Joel Embiid scored 29 points, Paul George added 26 points and 13 rebounds, and the Philadelphia 76ers overcame a 13-point deficit in the second half to defeat the Charlotte Hornets 118-114 on Saturday night.

Embiid, maxey lead 76ers' surge

With the win, Philadelphia extended its lead over Charlotte to two games in the Eastern Conference playoff race. The 76ers' All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey returned from a tendon injury in his right pinkie finger, scoring 26 points, dishing eight assists, and grabbing seven rebounds.

Brandon Miller led the Hornets with 29 points and eight rebounds, while LaMelo Ball chipped in with 20 points and eight assists. Charlotte's five-game winning streak ended as the team made 10 of 24 shots from beyond the arc in the first half.

The Hornets opened a 15-point lead midway through the third quarter, but the 76ers rallied, closing within five points at 97-92 heading into the fourth quarter. The lead changed hands nine times in the final eight minutes, before George buried a crucial three-pointer with 1:04 remaining to put Philadelphia ahead for good.

Charlotte had two chances to tie the game late, but Ball's attempts from downtown rimmed out. The 76ers improved to 4-1 in their last five games and now face the Miami Heat on Monday, while the Hornets host the Boston Celtics on Sunday.