The Philadelphia 76ers punched their ticket to the NBA Playoffs on Wednesday night, defeating the Orlando Magic 109-97 in a play-in game that carried all the intensity of a full postseason contest. And before the final buzzer had even fully faded, veteran center Andre Drummond had already shifted his attention to what lies ahead.
For Drummond, the win was not a moment to linger on. It was a launching point.
Drummond stays focused after the win
With Philadelphia now set to face the Boston Celtics in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs, the matchup has quickly become the talk of the league. The Celtics are no soft landing — Boston holds a commanding 66-50 all-time record against the Sixers and eliminated Philadelphia in a grueling seven-game series during the 2022-23 Eastern Conference Playoffs. Despite all of that history, Drummond expressed no fear or hesitation when the topic came up. He spoke instead with measured assurance about the depth and quality of his locker room, making clear that the team believes it has everything it needs to win.
That kind of calm from a veteran presence can be infectious in a playoff environment. While first-year players and younger contributors may still be adjusting to the weight of postseason basketball, a steadying voice from a seasoned big man often matters more than any stat line.
Drummond delivers when it counts
The 31 minutes Drummond logged on the floor against Orlando backed his confidence with results. He finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds, locking in a double-double and placing himself among the five Sixers players to reach double figures in scoring. His most important contribution came late in the fourth quarter, when he buried a decisive basket that helped close the door on any Orlando comeback attempt.
Drummond was not alone in producing a big night. Rookie guard VJ Edgecombe also recorded a double-double — a remarkable showing for a young player on a high-stakes stage. Edgecombe’s night was not without drama. A confrontation with Orlando’s Jalen Suggs following a contested layup led to a technical foul after the two exchanged words on the floor. The moment briefly raised the temperature inside the arena, but it did not knock Philadelphia off course.
Maxey lights it up for Philly
If one player defined Wednesday’s win in the most immediate way, it was Tyrese Maxey. The Sixers guard poured in 31 points, driving Philadelphia’s offense with the kind of aggressive, confident play that has come to define his game at this level. His performance earned him the all-new Amazon Prime Playmaker chain, a distinction the league is now using to recognize the top individual effort from each play-in game.
Maxey’s ability to take over in big moments continues to establish him as one of the more compelling players in the Eastern Conference. Heading into a first-round series against Boston, that kind of offensive firepower will be essential.
A third-quarter stumble the defense absorbed
Philadelphia’s path through the game was not entirely smooth. The Sixers went quiet in the third quarter, managing just 20 points in the period — a stretch that allowed Orlando to stay within striking distance. But the defense answered the call, holding the Magic to only 19 points in that same frame, which kept the game firmly in Philadelphia’s grasp.
In a playoff atmosphere, those kinds of defensive stands often define entire series. For the Sixers, surviving a cold offensive stretch without surrendering momentum says something meaningful about their composure as a group.
Next stop: Boston
The Wells Fargo Center will now host what figures to be one of the more anticipated first-round matchups of the 2026 NBA Playoffs. The Celtics are a well-prepared, experienced team that knows how to win against Philadelphia. But based on how the Sixers responded on Wednesday night — with poise, balance and an unwillingness to waver — they appear to be stepping into that challenge without hesitation.
Source: ClutchPoints / Yahoo Sports