76ers Narrow Gap in Play-In Race with Win Over Bulls

Philadelphia secures a critical victory while Chicago continues to struggle with turnovers and inconsistency.

The Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Chicago Bulls 109-97, pulling within one game of the Bulls for the final play-in tournament spot in the Eastern Conference.
Tyrese Maxey led the 76ers with 31 points and 9 assists, stepping up in the absence of Joel Embiid, who missed his 11th consecutive game with a knee injury.
Paul George exited the game in the second quarter due to a left pinky finger injury, adding to the 76ers' injury challenges.
The Bulls committed 20 turnovers, leading to 25 points for the 76ers, and scored just 14 points in the fourth quarter during a critical scoring drought.
Chicago's loss marks their seventh defeat in eight games, further complicating their position ahead of the February 6 trade deadline.