Embiid and George lift 76ers past Hornets 118-114, ending Charlotte’s five-game winning streak Saturday

Philadelphia’s late surge flips a game with playoff-positioning stakes in the Eastern Conference

The Philadelphia 76ers erased a second-half deficit Saturday night, March 28, 2026, beating the Charlotte Hornets 118-114 at Spectrum Center and snapping Charlotte’s five-game winning streak. The result tightened an already crowded Eastern Conference race in the season’s final stretch, with both teams entering the night clustered near one another in the standings.

Charlotte led 69-56 at one point after halftime, but Philadelphia’s shot-making and half-court execution shifted the balance over the final 18 minutes. The Hornets, who scored 36 points in the opening quarter, were held to 17 in the fourth as the 76ers closed with a 26-point final period.

Key performers and decisive margins

Joel Embiid led Philadelphia with 29 points, while Paul George added 26 points and 13 rebounds. Tyrese Maxey finished with eight assists, matching Charlotte’s LaMelo Ball for the game-high figure. For the Hornets, Brandon Miller scored 29 points in defeat.

• Philadelphia shot 49% from the field (40-of-82) and 47% from three (16-of-34).
• Charlotte shot 38% overall (36-of-96) and 31% from three (17-of-55).
• The teams committed nine turnovers apiece, but Charlotte’s missed shots created extra Philadelphia possessions late.

The 76ers’ shooting efficiency was central to the comeback: despite being outrebounded 53-41, Philadelphia’s advantage from the arc and at the free-throw line kept the game within reach before the late push. The Hornets went to the line more frequently (32 attempts to Philadelphia’s 29), but the 76ers generated a higher return from their perimeter looks.

Fourth-quarter dynamics

Charlotte entered the final quarter in front, but the offensive rhythm that built the early lead faded as Philadelphia increased pressure in the half court. The Hornets’ fourth-quarter output dropped sharply compared with the first three periods, while the 76ers continued to find clean looks—particularly on spot-up threes and late-clock possessions that ended at the rim or the line.

Quarter-by-quarter: Charlotte 36-33-28-17 (114); Philadelphia 25-39-28-26 (118).

What it means for Charlotte

For the Hornets, the loss ended a five-game run that had reinforced their push within the Southeast Division pack. The performance underscored a familiar late-game challenge against an opponent that can tilt matchups with size and shot creation: Charlotte generated volume (96 field-goal attempts) but could not convert efficiently enough to withstand Philadelphia’s fourth-quarter finish.

The teams now move forward with the standings compressed, where single results can swing seeding and tiebreak scenarios as the regular season nears its conclusion.