3 observations after Sixers fail to finish off Magic, lose again in Orlando

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3 observations after Sixers fail to finish off Magic, lose again in Orlando originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

For the second time this season, the Sixers failed to crack 100 points in Orlando and got decisively outplayed in the fourth quarter.

They dropped a 104-99 game to the Magic on Sunday night and fell to 15-22 this season.

Tyrese Maxey scored 29 points. Paul George posted 25 points, 10 rebounds and six assists.

Cole Anthony led the 23-18 Magic with 25 points. Jonathan Isaac had a 20-point, 11-rebound double-double off the bench and Paolo Banchero recorded 20 points, eight rebounds and six assists.

Sixers centers Joel Embiid (left foot sprain) and Andre Drummond (left toe sprain) each missed their fourth consecutive game.

The Sixers’ other injury absences were Caleb Martin (right groin soreness), Kyle Lowry (right hip sprain), KJ Martin (left foot stress reaction) and Jared McCain (left lateral meniscus surgery).

Orlando’s sidelined players included Franz Wagner, Mo Wagner, Jalen Suggs and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Tristan da Silva (illness) and Goga Bitadze (right hip contusion) both started the game but did not finish it.

The Sixers will return to Philadelphia and face the Western Conference-leading Thunder on Tuesday night. Here are observations on their loss to the Magic:

Youth, zone get Sixers on track 

Like CJ McCollum in the Pelicans’ win Friday, Anthony had a big start vs. the Sixers.

Anthony made his first five field goals and scored nine of Orlando’s first dozen points. As a team, the Magic opened 8 for 9 from the field and looked very comfortable against the Sixers’ defense.

Sixers head coach Nick Nurse called an early timeout, set his team up in a zone, and subbed rookie center Adem Bona in around the midpoint of the first quarter. Fellow youngsters Ricky Council IV and Justin Edwards received first-quarter minutes, too.

All of the above had the desired immediate effect. Two Maxey free throws late in the first quarter gave the Sixers a 21-20 lead.

Bona took a typically fearless leap to swat away a Bitadze dunk attempt. The UCLA product’s college shot blocking has certainly…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/3-observations-sixers-fail-finish-020618219.html

Author : NBC Sports Philadelphia

Publish date : 2025-01-13 02:06:00

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