PHILADELPHIA, PA – The Orlando Magic (46-35) lost to the Philadelphia 76ers (46-35) by the score of 125-113 at the Wells Fargo Center on Friday night in front of a sellout crowd.
The game was a must-win for both teams in the playoff race. If the Magic won the game, they would secure a playoff spot and avoid being in the play-in tournament. But they lost, and they still have a chance.
Philadelphia wasted no time in attacking Orlando at the beginning of the game. After starting off with a four-point lead, the Sixers took the helm and never let go.
Philly slowly crept away from the Magic with precision three-point shooting, making seven three-point shots in the first quarter, seemingly without much trouble. Tyrese Maxey hit three of his five three-point shots in the first quarter and helped the Sixers build a 40-27 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Magic suffered a major blow when Wendell Carter Jr left the game in the first quarter with major back spasms and never returned from the locker room.
Orlando thought they caught a break when 76ers All-Star center Joel Embiid checked himself out of the game in the second quarter. Embiid later returned to the court to start the third quarter.
Embiid led all scorers with 32 points and 13 rebounds. Even with limited mobility, Embiid managed to be a major factor in the game.
Tyrese Maxey was a key player for Philly as well, with 28 points, making many killer shots that stopped Orlando from coming back.
Philadelphia outshot the Magic 54% to 20% from three and made it difficult for Orlando to come back into contention for the rest of the night.
A bright spot for the Magic was the return of Franz Wagner, whose solid play managed to keep Orlando in the running, though mostly 10 or more points back for most of the game.
Wagner scored 24 points on the night, shooting 50% from the floor and adding 6 rebounds.
Paolo Banchero fought through the Philly double and triple teams to score a double-double, with 22 points and 15 rebounds in the losing effort.
Jalen Suggs scored 20 points for the Magic and, though holding his back in pain in the later quarters of the game, provided his usual energy, hustle, and fight, so much fight that he was called for a technical foul just before the half for arguing a call.
The Magic fought back in the second quarter, outscoring the 76ers 34-28, and managed to stay in reach for the rest of the game, even coming as close as four points in the later quarters.
Every time the Magic got close, Philly would hit another dagger three-point shot. Orlando’s scoring weakness was the main catalyst for their recent losses, along with lags in defensive intensity.
When playing top-tier teams, which the Sixers are (coming into the night on a six-game winning streak), you need to be playing at top-notch. Orlando has been floundering for the past ten games and has paid for it in their slipping standings.
Orlando was handed a gift after the game was over. The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Indiana Pacers on the same night, giving Orlando another chance to avoid the play-in tournament.
If Orlando defeats the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday, their final game of the season, they will secure a playoff spot.
Otherwise, they will be in the play-in tournament and will have to fight to extend their season.
Time will tell on Sunday night, 1 pm at the Kia Center in Orlando.
