Joel Embiid sits out as the 76ers cruise past the Nets 107-86. Philly will face Miami in the play-in tournament

PHILADELPHIA – Tyrese Maxey scored 26 points for a Philadelphia 76ers team playing without Joel Embiid, clinching a spot in the play-in tournament with a 107-86 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday -Setting went.

The 76ers host Miami in the NBA play-in tournament on Wednesday night. The winner receives the number 7 seed in the Eastern Conference. The loser hosts either Atlanta or Chicago on Friday to determine the No. 8 seed and who will face No. 1 Boston in the first round.

The 76ers expect Embiid, the two-time NBA scoring champion, to be in the lineup in the postseason.

Although the seeding could have reached as high as fifth place in the Eastern Conference, the Sixers gave Embiid a break as a precaution, the team announced. Embiid underwent surgery on his left knee in a game on Friday, the latest injury setback in a career that has been plagued by him.

A year after being named NBA MVP, Embiid finished the season averaging 34.7 points and 11 rebounds in just 39 games. He had the statistical oddity of scoring more points than minutes played, scoring 1,353 points in 1,309 minutes.

The 76ers clearly need a healthy – or healthy – Embiid in the postseason to give them a chance to win a round or more in the East. The Sixers finished 31-8 this season with Embiid and 16-27 without him.

“I think we overcame some adversity,” coach Nick Nurse said before the game. “I think the main thing that I'm happy and satisfied with is that our competitive spirit, our spirit, I think, has increased in the last few months. We’re competing at a level that I think we should all expect our guys to compete at.”

All Eastern Conference games had the same afternoon tipoff time, so the playoff situation became apparent around the same time. Nurse said he will try to avoid looking at the scoreboard and “try to focus on the game and basketball.”

With Allen Iverson and Julius Erving in the house, the Sixers shook off a shaky start – they trailed for a quarter – and easily prevailed against the struggling Nets. Even Nets interim coach Kevin Ollie appreciated how good the Sixers could be with Embiid in the lineup.

“It will be fun to watch them in the playoffs,” he said. “Hopefully Embiid gets back to 100%.”

Of course, full health has been a hallmark of Embiid's career. He missed the first two seasons of his career after being the No. 3 pick in the 2014 draft and has never played more than 68 games in a season.

Embiid said earlier this month that sitting out again due to his recent knee injury “took a psychological toll.”

“Being depressed. It wasn’t good,” Embiid said. “Still not where I should be, especially mentally.”

NET PROFITS

Cam Thomas scored 18 points and Noah Clowney had 13 points. The Nets are in the process of finding another coach for next season.

___ AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA