In the midst of a seven-game losing streak, the Sixers (8-50) will try their luck against the Magic (25-32) for the second time this week in Orlando at 6pm. Philadelphia was unable to stop Magic center Nik Vucevic, who was selected by the Sixers 16th overall in 2011 and involved in the trade that brought Andrew Bynum to Philly. We all saw how that deal worked out. Tonight, the Sixers will get another chance to top Orlando and snap their seven-game skid.
The Sixers are coming off of a game they kept close for the most part, but ultimately a 10-0 run to end the third quarter run by the Wizards proved to be too much for them and ended in a 103-94 loss. They shot just 38.5 percent from the floor in the second half. While a lot of the Sixers focus has been how Nerlens Noel and Jahlil Okafor will coexist offensively, they will need to get it together defensively as well, especially when it comes to rebounding.
The Wizards won the rebounding matchup by an landslide on Friday night, 55-41. Washington also out-rebounded Philadelphia on the offensive boards, 17-7. It will be another tough test offensively and defensively for Noel and Okafor tonight, who face off against Nik Vucevic again. The Magic center scored 35 points to go along with nine rebounds, four assists and a block in Orlando's 124-115 win in Philadelphia earlier this week.
Meanwhile, the Magic have lost two straight since their win against the Sixers, including a matchup against Golden State, 130-114, that saw Stephen Curry score 51 points. On Friday night, the Magic allowed New York score 62 points in the first half en route to a 108-85 at Madison Square Garden. Since January 1st, the Magic have posted a record of 6-19, due in large part to their defensive issues. Orlando has allowed opponents to score 112.4 points per game in five games since the All-Star break.
Game Notes:
- In four matchups against Orlando this season, Jahlil Okafor is averaging 18.7 points, four rebounds and two blocks.
- Following two straight losses, the Magic now sit 4.5 games outside the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference.
- In this past weeks' magic against the Magic, Nerlens Noel posted 16 points and 11 rebounds, but he left Friday's game early with what looked to be an injury to his left leg.
- Orlando scored 28 points off 22 Sixers turnovers on Tuesday. They had 27 points on 17 giveaways back on November 7th, a 105-97 victory in Philadelphia.
- Over their two games this past week against the Magic and Pistons, the Sixers have gone just 15-for-48 (31.2%) from beyond the arc. They were shooting a little over 44 percent during the four games prior.
- Orlando is 71-32 all-time against the Sixers in the regular season
Projected Lineups:
Sixers
PG – Ish Smith - 11.6 ppg, 6.5 apg
SG - Nik Stauskas - 7.6 ppg, 1.8 apg
SF – Robert Covington - 11.4 ppg, 1.6 spg
PF – Jahlil Okafor - 17.3 ppg, 7.1 rpg
C – Nerlens Noel - 10.8 ppg, 8.1 rpg
Injuries: Joel Embiid (foot)
Magic
PG – Elfrid Payton - 10.7 ppg, 5.8 apg
SG – Victor Oladipo - 14.6 ppg, 4.0 apg
SF – Evan Fournier - 14.2 ppg, 2.8 apg
PF - Aaron Gordon - 8.2 ppg, 6.4 rpg
C – Nik Vucevic - 17.5 ppg, 9.1 rpg
Injuries: None to report
Game Information:
Tip-off: 6PM
Location: Amway Center, Orlando, FL
TV: Comcast Sportsnet
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Stream Live: NBA League Pass, NBC Sports Live Extra
Brandon Apter, Managing Editor for Sixerdelphia.com
