Sixers Earn Tiebreaker Over Hornets With Road Win

Philadelphia 76ers defeat Charlotte Hornets in tight Eastern Conference matchup.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 12:34am

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The Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Charlotte Hornets 118-114 on the road, earning an important tiebreaker in the tight Eastern Conference standings. Joel Embiid led the Sixers with 29 points and 6 rebounds, while Tyrese Maxey and Paul George also had strong performances in their returns from injury.

Why it matters

With the playoff race in the East so close, the tiebreaker earned by the Sixers in this game could prove crucial in determining seeding and postseason positioning down the stretch. The win also gives Philadelphia a two-game lead over Charlotte in the standings.

The details

The Sixers overcame a slow start, with the Hornets leading for much of the night. However, Philadelphia dug deep and made key plays in the second half to secure the victory. Tyrese Maxey had 26 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists in his return from injury, while Paul George added 26 points and 13 rebounds. VJ Edgecombe and Kelly Oubre Jr. also contributed off the bench for the Sixers.

  • The Sixers and Hornets faced off on Saturday evening.
  • Tyrese Maxey and Kelly Oubre Jr. returned from injury for Philadelphia.

The players

Joel Embiid

The 76ers' star center had 29 points and 6 rebounds in the win.

Tyrese Maxey

The Sixers' guard had 26 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists in his return from injury.

Paul George

The 9-time All-Star scored 26 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for Philadelphia.

VJ Edgecombe

The Sixers' rookie contributed 13 points and 5 rebounds off the bench.

Kelly Oubre Jr.

The veteran forward added 9 points and 5 rebounds in his return from injury.

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What they’re saying

“We knew this was an important game and we had to dig deep to get the win. The tiebreaker is huge in this tight race.”

— Joel Embiid, 76ers Center

“It felt great to be back out there with the guys. We're going to need everyone healthy and contributing if we want to make a deep playoff run.”

— Tyrese Maxey, 76ers Guard

What’s next

The Sixers will look to build on this road win as they continue their road trip, facing several more key Eastern Conference opponents in the coming weeks.

The takeaway

This hard-fought victory over a fellow playoff contender demonstrates the 76ers' resilience and depth, with key contributions from both starters and role players. The tiebreaker earned could prove pivotal as the race for seeding in the East intensifies.