Pistons topple Sixers in Philly and secure the top seed in the Eastern Conference
Tyrese Maxey led the way with 23 points, but it was former Sixers standout Tobias Harris who fueled the Pistons. Next up for the Sixers, a road test awaits against San Antonio on Monday.
Tyrese Maxey led the 76ers with 23 points and Paul George added 20, but the duo still watched as the Detroit Pistons locked up the top seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs following a 116-93 win on Saturday.
Former Sixers forward Tobias Harris scored 19 points, and Daniss Jenkins added 16 points and 14 assists for the Pistons (56-21), who clinched the top seed in the East for the first time since the 2006-07 season. They have already clinched the Central Division title for the first time since 2007-08.
For the Sixers, George’s total now has his average at 25.8 points in six games since returning from a 25-game suspension for violating the league’s drug policy.
Rookie VJ Edgecombe added 19.
The 76ers played without Joel Embiid, who was ruled out with right oblique injury maintenance/illness in the second half of a back-to-back.
Coming into Saturday night, the Sixers had won eight of their last 11.
Both Duren (illness) and Harris (left knee contusion) had been listed as questionable. The Pistons are 8-2 in the 10 games that their All-Star Cade Cunningham has missed with a collapsed left lung.
The teams went back and forth in the first half, the Pistons leading by 10 points after one quarter before the 76ers tied the game in the second. A 15-4 run to end the first half gave Detroit control, and the Pistons stretched their lead to 26 points in the second half.
It’s a return to the road now for the Sixers, who start a three-game trip in San Antonio on Monday.