Sixers’ drive to playoffs continues with win over Wolves

Paul George scored 23 points and Kelly Oubre capped a 21-point effort with a pair of clutch 3-pointers as the Philadelphia 76ers topped the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves 115-103 on Friday.

In a game with playoff implications for both teams, Philadelphia (43-34) overcame an ugly first half to win for the eighth time in 11 games. Meanwhile, Minnesota (46-31) allowed 74 points after intermission to wrap up a 1-2 road trip.

Joel Embiid contributed 19 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists for Philadelphia, which currently holds the final guaranteed playoff spot in the Eastern Conference pending the result of the Raptors' game against the Grizzlies later Friday night. Tyrese Maxey notched 21 points and eight assists, while George chipped in with six rebounds, six assists and three steals.

Julius Randle and Bones Hyland led the Timberwolves with 21 points apiece. Anthony Edwards, who missed Thursday's loss in Detroit (knee/illness), returned but was held to eight points on 3-of-15 shooting. Minnesota leads Phoenix by four games for the final guaranteed playoff spot in the Western Conference.

After scoring just 41 points in the first half, Philadelphia erupted for 42 in the third quarter. Maxey scored 17 points in the quarter and Embiid had 13, outscoring Minnesota (24) by themselves in the period.

The Timberwolves led 70-68 with under three minutes left in the quarter before the Sixers reeled off a 15-1 run. Embiid's 3-pointer gave Philadelphia the lead before Maxey and Quentin Grimes combined for 10 of the team's next 12 points to shift the momentum toward the hosts.

Minnesota only needed two minutes in the fourth quarter to slice its 12-point deficit in half, as Naz Reid's three-point play made it 85-79. However, the Sixers countered with 11 straight points, punctuated by George's 3-pointer that created a 96-79 cushion with 7:24 to play.

The Timberwolves rallied to get within 109-103 with 1:27 remaining, but Oubre made 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions to seal the win.

Philadelphia led 19-17 after an ugly first quarter in which the teams combined to shoot 26.9% from the field and 3 of 22 from 3-point range.

The Timberwolves found a rhythm in the second quarter, as they shot 50% from the floor and outscored the Sixers 30-22 behind 14 points from Hyland.