Before the high-stakes play-in clash, let's rewind the tape on the three regular-season battles between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Orlando Magic. These matchups set the stage for a win-or-go-home Wednesday night in Philadelphia.

The 76ers, having navigated the grueling 82-game schedule, now face a final hurdle. As the No. 7 seed, they host the No. 8 Magic with a direct path to the playoffs on the line. A win books their ticket as the 7-seed for a first-round series against the Boston Celtics. A loss means a second chance in another play-in game, fighting to enter the bracket as the 8-seed.

Their season series was a tale of resilience and starkly different performances. In the first meeting, with stars Joel Embiid and Paul George sidelined, Tyrese Maxey erupted for 43 points, leading a shorthanded Sixers squad to a victory fueled by key support from VJ Edgecombe and Kelly Oubre Jr., while containing Paolo Banchero and the Magic's three-point attack.

The second game flipped the script. Orlando caught fire from deep, hitting 13 threes, led by a surprising 31-point outburst from Anthony Black. A severely depleted Sixers roster, missing Embiid, George, Oubre, and Edgecombe, struggled offensively, with even Maxey held to 20 points in a Magic win.

The rubber match was a defensive grind, a low-scoring affair where both teams shot miserably from beyond the arc. Ultimately, Philadelphia's star power made the difference. A healthier lineup saw Maxey, Embiid, and George combine effectively, with the defense keying on Banchero to secure a pivotal series-clinching win.

This history adds compelling context to tonight's single-elimination drama. Will the Sixers' top-end talent prevail again, or can Orlando's youthful core force a different outcome under the brightest lights?