The last time that the Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic clashed, Orlando trounced them by 41 points on November 25th. Philadelphia was without Joel Embiid and Paul George then, but the Magic were not as lucky on Friday night.
The 76ers (21-15) handled the Magic (21-18) 103-91 in their final regular-season meeting at Kia Center tonight. This win named Philadelphia the victor of its season series against Orlando, which could be key to seeding come the postseason. The fourth and eighth seeds of the Eastern Conference are separated by just two games, possibly giving the 76ers an early postseason edge.
Here’s how they did it:
Neither team shot above 15% from three-point range, a stat indicative of the unflattering basketball both teams played for most of the night. The difference was that Philadelphia generated those opportunities by moving the ball, running in transition and commanding the offensive glass. Meanwhile, the Magic hold the third-worst three-point percentage in the NBA, so they’re accustomed to games like this. The only reason the 76ers couldn’t pull away is that their shots simply didn’t fall.
But, Philadelphia prevented Orlando from taking charge using its defense. The Magic’s bread and butter is the free-throw line as they attempt the most foul shots in the NBA, shooting 28 per game. The 76ers limited them to only 18 attempts by containing Paolo Banchero, Orlando’s leader in free-throw tries.
Banchero’s game revolves around downhill pressure, but Philadelphia took that away by guarding him at nearly halfcourt. Dominick Barlow (11 points and nine rebounds) and Jabari Walker adequately executed this gameplan as Banchero contributed 14 points on 6-18 shooting from the field. Not only did the 76ers’ defense limit his effectiveness inside, but they also forced Orlando to restart its offense on many occasions.
Philadelphia exploited the Magic’s poor three-point shooting by switching to a zone defense throughout the game. Desmond Bane and Anthony Black were the only players to find success, registering 23 and 21 points respectively. But, that’s as good as it got for Orlando.
It wasn’t an offensive clinic for Philadelphia either, but it scored when it mattered most.
The 76ers entered the second half with a one-point deficit that Tyrese Maxey eagerly erased, recording 14 points in the third frame. After struggling to impose his will in the first half, he torched Jamal Cain off the dribble, showcasing his three-level scoring talents. He led all scorers with 29 points and his surge carved Philadelphia a four-point advantage en route to the fourth quarter.
Paul George took it from there, however, tallying 10 of his 18 points in the final 12 minutes. His pull-up shooting single-handedly closed out the Magic while adding three stocks in the period for good measure. Most of George’s fourth-quarter points came when Maxey and Joel Embiid rested as he continued to have success commanding Philadelphia’s second unit that has otherwise struggled.
Just to be safe, Embiid totaled 22 points and nine rebounds in his sixth consecutive game played and VJ Edgecombe thrived with the ball in his hands, dishing out seven assists. Tonight also marked the second consecutive contest where Maxey, Embiid and George all eclipsed 18 points. The 76ers didn’t pick up a flashy win, they earned a grown-up win by handling a playoff-caliber opponent even with their shots not falling.
Philadelphia holds the fifth seed while Orlando possesses the eighth. Considering how narrow the Eastern Conference’s middle class is, it’s plausible that these teams can meet again in the playoffs. Despite facing each other three times, these teams have yet to play each other at full strength as the Magic were deprived of Franz Wagner (ankle), Mo Wagner (knee), Jalen Suggs (knee) and Tristan da Silva (back).