The struggling Philadelphia 76ers defeat the thriving Orlando Magic. The Magic played the Sixer two days ago and won with a four-point margin. The Sixers regrouped and dominated the Magic in the second game. The Sixers had no healthy center as Andre Drummond wasn’t fully recovered. Magic didn’t have Paolo Banchero but still dominated their games. The Philadelphia 76ers almost lost this game. So how did they come out on top?
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Orlando Magic Recap
The Orlando Magic started the first quarter on a strong note. We thought the Sixers wouldn’t play against the game with a center as all the team’s centers were out. However, Andre Drummond was available to perform. Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner were making bucket after bucket to increase their lead. Yet, Thanks to KJ Martin’s offensive contribution, the Sixers remained competitive with a two-margin loss in the first quarter (27-25).
The Philadelphia 76ers entered the second quarter with a slight loss and grit to make things happen in this quarter. Franz Wagner put up a good performance offensively that landed him 20 points in the first half. However, the Magic team struggled to make buckets in the second quarter. Again, KJ Martin’s defense helped the Sixers dominate offensively, with Paul George leading with 12 points, four rebounds, and six assists. The first half ended with Sixers leading the Magic with nine points (50-41).
Locked-In Sixers
Usually, when the Philadelphia 76ers lead in the first half, the team’s performance dwindles in the second. But the case was different here. The third quarter started with Tyrese Maxey, Jared McCain, and Paul George running the offense. KJ Martin was also there to ensure the Sixers remained dominant in the third quarter.
Jared McCain didn’t finish the game with a double-digit score because Coach Nurse removed him in the first quarter after having some bad turnovers. Yet, the rookie’s contribution in the third quarter helped the Philadelphia 76ers go on a 16-0 run. Most of McCain’s missed shots were converted to points by KJ Martin’s dunks.
KJ Martin looked good in this game, especially as a defender. The Magic couldn’t convert most of their shots due to Martin’s contribution on the defensive end of the court. Guerschon Yabusele was also good defensively. Paul George made the right passes and helped the Sixers take the lead. In this game, George had nine assists. Tyrese Maxey struggled to make his shots as he was 5-for-17 from the field and 1-for-7 from beyond the arc.
Sixers Struggles Again
After the third quarter, the Orlando Magic finally woke up from their slumber and started making buckets to close out the game in their favor. In the fourth quarter, Kyle Lowry started, which led to the Sixer’s struggle to maintain their 16-0 run domination. The Magic went on a 10-0 run with Franz Wagner leading the offense. At the end of the day, the Philadelphia 76ers still maintained their good performance to win the game with eight points (102-94).
Paul George almost finished with a double-double after making 21 points, nine assists, and four rebounds. KJ Martin got 20 points, two assists, and three rebounds. Guerschon Yabusele had 16 points, four assists and three rebounds. Franz Wagner finished with a whopping 30 points, five assists, and five rebounds. Though Wagner combined with Jalen Suggs for 52 points, they couldn’t overpower the Sixers.
Key Takeaways From Sixers Performance
The Philadelphia 76ers almost blew their lead as usual. What usually causes this situation is Coach Nurse’s rotation strategy. KJ Martin has shown his worth to the team as the 76ers played good perimeter defense. Despite the Magic’s athleticism, they couldn’t convert many of their three-point attempts.
Paul George’s presence made a huge impact on the team, especially the young players. George displayed more of a facilitator performance in the offense to set up his teammates for success. Tyrese Maxey struggled to make shots throughout the game, especially from the three-point position. Yet, his team’s performance didn’t fall apart as he struggled offensively. Maxey finished with 16 points, two assists and two rebounds.
Jared McCain needs to work on his turnover, as it would cost the team many points moving forward. McCain is still a good player, though he had seven points, two assists, and two rebounds in 21 minutes. In the Sixer’s last game against the Magic, the rookie dropped 30+ points, though the Sixers lost. With Joel Embiid’s possible return for the Sixers game against the Bulls, McCain could get a better performance with Maxey as the shooting guard.
Final Thoughts
The Eastern Conference play-in position is still possible for the Philadelphia 76ers. The Sixers are currently 6-for-15 in 21 games. But the fixtures become tough from here on. Thus, if Paul George stays healthy while managing his knee and Maxey gets back into his groove, the Sixers can remain competitive for the rest of the season and make the playoffs.
