GRADES: Orlando Magic 98, Philadelphia 76ers 97
Less than 48 hours after its big win over the Milwaukee Bucks, the Philadelphia 76ers were going to Disney World (well, the city it is in) to take on the Orlando Magic, and another meeting with old friend Markelle Fultz.
John Hollinger nailed it. Although they did score 10 more than 87, thanks to four three-pointers in the final 90 seconds. After crushing the No. 1 team in the Eastern Conference, the Philadelphia 76ers fell to the No. 8 place team, the Orlando Magic, 98-97, on Friday night at the Amway Center.
The Sixers are now 23-11 on the season while the Magic’s record is 14-17. Orlando is now 2-0 on the season against the Sixers.
A flurry of three-pointers by the Sixers and poor foul shooting by the Magic allowed Philly to have a chance at the end. Trailing 87-84 with 19.1 seconds remaining, Ben Simmons inbound pass intended for Tobias Harris was stolen by the Magic’s Evan Fournier, who made one of two free throws for a four-point lead.
Joel Embiid hit a three-pointer with 5.1 seconds to cut the deficit to one. Simmons then stole the inbounds pass and Embiid had a half-court shot that would have won it clang off the side of the rim at the buzzer.
Consistency has plagued the Sixers so far this season, unless you count always being able to play with the top teams in the league and then lowering themselves to the level of teams they should beat easily.
The kind of intensity the Sixers had at the end was needed earlier.
Orlando went on a 14-4 run to take a 91-80 lead with two minutes, twelve seconds left in the fourth quarter and then the Sixers ratched up the intensity and started making shots.
In the third period the Sixers had as much as an eight-point lead but then some shots rimmed out, bad turnovers and a Magic team going hard to the basket for a bunch of dunks and layups changed the momentum. Entering the fourth period, the Magic held a 71-68 lead as the Sixers ended up shooting just 8-for-19 in the third quarter.
The first half featured both teams looking sluggish on offense. The Sixers held a 47-46 at halftime but only shot 41% from the field, although the Magic was even worse at 37%. Fultz scored eight points in the first two periods, including two three-pointers (not bad for a career 25% shooter from beyond the arc).
<strong>32 mins | 24 pts | 11 reb | 2 ast | 0 stl | 1 blk | 4 TO | 8-21 FG | 4-11 3PT| 4-4 FT | 5 PF | – 1 |</strong><p>You can not doubt the big guys effort, unlike the rest of an overall uninspired squad. Embiid was diving on the floor and hitting the offensive boards. His defense was good except for a spell in the third quarter when the Magic went on a dunkfest as Embiid received no help. For whatever reason, Embiid played a lot on the perimeter, attempting 11 three-point shots, including one that would have won the game at the end. It was an odd game overall but he was out there trying at least.</p>. Center. Philadelphia 76ers. JOEL EMBIID. A-
<strong>22 mins | 7 pts | 3 reb | 0 ast | 2 stl | 0 blk | 3 TO | 3-9 FG | 1-4 3PT| 0-0 FT | 0 PF | -5|</strong><p>After pouring in 16 points against one of the top teams in the NBA in the Bucks, Korkmaz made just one-third of his shots against the Magic. In a game where the offense was herky-jerky until the final minutes, the Sixers really could have used Korkmaz keeping the hot hand he has had lately. On the positive, he did not do a bad job on the defensive end.</p>. Forward. Philadelphia 76ers. FURKAN KORKMAZ. C-
<strong>39 mins | 13 pts | 9 reb | 7 ast | 4 stl | 0 blk | 3 TO | 5-11 FG | 0-0 3PT| 3-6 FT | 5 PF | +1 |</strong><p>This was one of those games where Simmons’ stats are more impressive than his impact on the court. For whatever reason, Simmons was posting down low a lot more than normal (which was strange as he had 6-10 <a rel=. Point Guard. Philadelphia 76ers. BEN SIMMONS. C+
<strong>36 mins | 24 pts | 11 reb | 3 ast | 0 stl | 0 blk | 2 TO | 9-19 FG | 3-8 3PT| 3-4 FT | 2 PF | 0 |</strong><p>Harris, along with Embiid, can hold his head high knowing he gave his best effort for the length of the game. For much of the contest, Harris was the only one making buckets. On the defensive end, he missed a few assignments on weakside help, which the athletic Magic frontcourt took advantage of. Considering a lot of his teammates were not moving much on offense, Harris got few open shots but he made the most of his opportunities.</p>. Forward. Philadelphia 76ers. TOBIAS HARRIS. B+
B. <strong>36 mins | 15 pts | 3 reb | 6 ast | 3 stl | 1 blk | 2 TO | 6-13 FG | 1-1 3PT| 2-2 FT | 3 PF | +2 |</strong><p>It was solid effort but the team really could have used a spark from Richardson on the defensive end. The Magic guards are not anything to write home about (which is why they took a flier on Fultz) and, although he had three steals, Richardson could have created more havoc on the defensive end as the talented Magic frontcourt was constantly being fed entry passes. Statistically, it was not a bad night for Richardson, the team just could have used a little more.</p>. Guard. Philadelphia 76ers. JOSH RICHARDSON
The Sixers bench did not come through with the starters struggling, scoring just 14 points with James Ennis and (sorry, Hive) Mike Scott combining for two points. The Magic bench had 26 points.
In case you were wondering how Milwaukee did after getting beaten soundly on Wednesday by the Sixers, they did pretty well, as they won at Atlantia, 112-86, on Friday.
Next. Sixers 2019-20 trade season primer. dark
Next up, the 76ers will be taking their talents to South Beach as, in the second half of a back-to-back, they will face the Miami Heat on Saturday night and see another old friend in Jimmy Butler.