76ers Rally Past Hornets 118-114 in Comeback

The Philadelphia 76ers rallied from a 15-point deficit in the second half to defeat the Charlotte Hornets 118-114 on Saturday night in Charlotte, North Carolina, securing a crucial victory in the Eastern Conference playoff race. Joel Embiid led the comeback with 29 points, six rebounds and two blocks, including a key stop in the final seconds, while Paul George added 26 points and a season-high 13 rebounds in his second game back from a 25-game suspension. Tyrese Maxey, returning after missing 10 games with a tendon injury in his right pinkie finger, contributed 26 points, eight assists and seven rebounds.

The win marked the 76ers' fourth victory in their last five games and snapped Charlotte's five-game winning streak. It also gave Philadelphia the season tiebreaker over the Hornets with a 2-1 series edge, extending their lead to two games for the East's seventh spot. With eight regular-season games remaining, the 76ers sit half a game behind the Atlanta Hawks and Toronto Raptors for the sixth seed, the final direct playoff position. A strong finish could propel them into the top six and avoid the play-in tournament.

Charlotte jumped out to a 36-25 lead after the first quarter,...