Mar 28, 2026; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George (8) celebrates after making a basket during the fourth quarter against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Brian Westerholt-Imagn Images
For much of Saturday night, the Sixers looked like a team still searching for itself.
By the end, they looked like a team nobody will want to see in April.
Behind a star-powered closing surge, the Sixers rallied from a double-digit deficit to defeat the Charlotte Hornets, 118-114, at Spectrum Center — a win that may carry weight far beyond a single night in March.
It was the kind of game that revealed something important: when healthy, this team has teeth.
Joel Embiid led the way with 29 points, including a game-saving defensive play in the closing seconds, while Paul George added 26 points and 13 rebounds in his continued reintegration into the lineup. Tyrese Maxey, returning from a 10-game absence due to a finger injury, looked every bit like himself with 26 points, eight assists and seven rebounds.
Paul George 26 PTS, 13 REB, 4 STL, 1 BLK, vs Hornets pic.twitter.com/Hl5Ja7JiGE
And that trio — the Sixers’ long-anticipated “Big Three” — was the difference when it mattered most.
But it didn’t start that way.
Charlotte came out flying, fueled by a hot start from Brandon Miller, who poured in 29 points and helped stake the Hornets to an early lead. The Sixers trailed by as many as 15 points in the third quarter and struggled to keep Charlotte off the glass, surrendering a steady diet of second-chance opportunities.
At that point, the game felt like it might slip away.
Instead, it flipped.
Maxey ignited the comeback midway through the fourth quarter, tying the game with a ferocious drive and then pushing the tempo as the Sixers began to seize control. The pace quickened. The ball movement sharpened. And suddenly, the Hornets — who had won five straight coming in — looked like the team searching for answers.
Tyrese Maxey dunked on Miles Bridges and taunted him when Bridges wouldn't shake his hand 😂
(via @bleacherreport, @nbcsphilly) pic.twitter.com/3DIJ0GDOe0
The final minutes were a seesaw.
Charlotte briefly reclaimed the lead on a LaMelo Ball three-pointer with just over a minute remaining, but the Sixers responded immediately. After Embiid split a pair of free throws, George delivered the dagger — a corner three that gave Philadelphia the lead for good with just over a minute left.
From there, it was about closing.
George came up with a steal on the next possession, and Embiid did what elite players do — he erased the Hornets’ final real chance, blocking a potential tying shot in the closing seconds to seal the win.
Up 3, with 7.4 seconds remaining, Joel Embiid with a big clutch block on Brandon Miller's corner 3 attempt (with replays) pic.twitter.com/uATdzeSoMD
Finally, Ball had a look late. It didn’t fall.
Game over.
For the Sixers, it was their fourth win in five games and, perhaps more importantly, a direct hit in the Eastern Conference standings. The victory not only snapped Charlotte’s winning streak, but also gave Philadelphia the season series tiebreaker — a potentially critical edge in a tightly packed race for playoff positioning.
That matters.
So does the timing.
For the first time in weeks, the Sixers had their core intact — Embiid healthy, George back after his suspension, Maxey returning ahead of schedule. Even Kelly Oubre Jr. was back after an extended absence and chipped in nine points off the bench. The result wasn’t perfect basketball, but it was revealing.
They can score in bunches. They can execute late. And they have multiple players capable of taking over a game.
There are still issues, particularly on the glass and defensively, where Charlotte exposed some familiar cracks. But those concerns were overshadowed by something more important: cohesion.
Or at least, the beginnings of it.
Because for all the chaos this season has thrown at them — injuries, absences, lineup shuffles — the Sixers may finally be getting the version of themselves they envisioned back in October.
And if Saturday was any indication, that version is dangerous.
The climb in the standings isn’t over. The margin for error remains thin. But with nine games left and momentum building, the Sixers suddenly look less like a team trying to survive the season — and more like one preparing to make noise when it matters most.
