Riding high on a big win
The 23-10 Philadelphia 76ers will take the floor tomorrow with an extra hop in their step, all courtesy of flattening the East-leading Milwaukee Bucks this past Thursday, 121-109. It was a stellar performance on both ends as they fired away 21 three-pointers and held Giannis Antetokounmpo to an ugly 8-for-27 shooting. Philly has won three in a row and scored over 120 points in each victory.
Joel Embiid and Tobias Harris will continue being the top two scorers for the Sixers, who are averaging 27 and 21.4 points per game in their last eight outings, respectively. The team’s floor general, Ben Simmons, will also be in there. He’s putting up a double double (16.9 PPG, 10 APG) in his last seven, while also shooting 60.5% from the floor.
The Sixers lost to the Orlando Magic in their meeting last November 14th, 112-97. Embiid sat out that game due to an injury so the paint was just wide open, causing Philly to give up 43 points and 25 rebounds to Nikola Vucevic and Aaron Gordon.
Philly is 7-8 on the road this season.
The below .500 playoff team
The 13-17 Magic are lucky to still be ranked as a playoff team. They are eighth in the East and a couple of games ahead from the ninth-place Charlotte Hornets.
Much of the push that’s keeping the Magic within the playoff seeding is having a top-rated defense and an ability to take care of the ball. The Magic commit the second-fewest turnovers and fouls, and allow the third-fewest points (103.5) and record the third-most blocks per game (6.6).
All of that stinginess on defense is getting squashed by the problems on offense, though. Orlando is only 29th in scoring (103.5 PPG) and 25th in offensive efficiency.
Nevertheless, All-Star Nikola Vucevic will remain as the biggest threat in the team. He’s averaging 19.2 points and 9.2 boards since returning from an ankle injury. Tomorrow will be his sixth game back.
Evan Fournier (19.2 PPG) is scoring well this season and has benefitted from Vucevic missing a handful of games. He too can be expected to provide offense.
The Magic are 9-6 at home this season.
PREDICTION:
The Magic put up a good fight, but the Sixers pull through in the end, 105-100.
