Magic-76ers Preview

By JEFF MEZYDLO
Posted Feb 03 2013 11:56AM

Though Philadelphia has struggled with Orlando in recent years, a visit from the reeling Magic might provide the 76ers with a good chance to match their longest winning streak of the season.

Hoping to further take advantage of a favorable stretch on their longest homestand of the season, the 76ers look for a third straight victory while trying to send the Magic to their second 10-game skid in less than two months Monday night.

With consecutive victories over Washington and Sacramento, Philadelphia (20-26) has a chance to win three straight for the first time since Nov. 25-30. Though their latest victories came against two of the NBA's worst teams, the 76ers continue to build confidence while starting 3-1 on an eight-game homestand.

"I think we are in a good place right now and have some momentum," center Spencer Hawes said. "Guys are playing well with one another and we have to keep translating that into wins."

Thaddeus Young had 23 points with 15 rebounds, Jrue Holiday scored 21 while overcoming eight turnovers and Nick Young added 20 in Friday's 89-80 win over the Kings. The 76ers held Sacramento to 38.0 percent shooting, including 1 of 10 from 3-point range, but almost a blew a 19-point lead.

Philadelphia gave up a 17-point cushion in last Monday's 103-100 loss to Memphis.

"We're just coming out with all kinds of energy," said Nick Young, who has averaged 18.2 points in five games - the last four as a starter. "When we get up, we've got to keep the lead."

Strong defensive play has keyed the 76ers' success in the last four games. Aside from the Memphis loss, Philadelphia held New York, Washington and Sacramento to an average of 81.3 points on 37.4 percent shooting.

Though Orlando has won three straight versus Philadelphia and averaged 103.0 points while shooting 48.2 percent to win 14 of the last 16 meetings, the current Magic are hardly the caliber of those past clubs that won 25 of 32 in the series.

Orlando (14-33) dropped 10 in a row from Dec. 21-Jan. 9, then won two of three before its current slide reached nine games with a 107-98 loss at Milwaukee on Saturday. The Magic have averaged 89.0 points while losing the first four of a five-game trip.

While his team tries to avoid losing seven straight road games for the first time since a 16-game skid from Jan. 27-March 21, 2006, coach Jacque Vaughn remains positive. With injured starters Glen Davis (foot), Arron Afflalo (calf) and Jameer Nelson (forearm) day to day, the Magic led by one in the third quarter before allowing a 19-6 run.

"This group continues to show themselves," Vaughn said. "The competitive nature from every guy that stepped on the floor was great to see."

After posting 20 points and 12 rebounds at Milwaukee, Nikola Vucevic has averaged 15.8 with 12.8 boards in the last six games. Rookie Maurice Harkless recorded season highs with 19 points and 14 rebounds in his third straight start.

J.J Redick has shot 33.3 percent or worse in three of four games but 51.7 percent while totaling 37 points in the last two against the 76ers.

Holiday has averaged 23.8 points and shot 53.0 percent in the last four contests overall but has averaged 9.8 on 39.1 percent shooting in six home games versus Orlando.

76ers top Magic 78-61 for 3rd straight victory

By DAN GELSTON
Posted Feb 04 2013 10:38PM

PHILADELPHIA (AP) Thaddeus Young pounded his fist on the court in agony, his all-out dive for a loose ball too much for his left hamstring.

Young was out for the game - and the 76ers' top rebounder could be out for two weeks.

His injury knocked the wind out of the Sixers on a night they matched their season-high tying three-game win streak. Spencer Hawes had 21 points and 14 rebounds and Jrue Holiday had 13 points and 14 assists to lead Philadelphia to a 78-61 win over the short-handed Orlando Magic on Monday night.

"This is a game you're supposed to win," coach Doug Collins said. "But it's a big loss with Thad."

Young was scheduled to have an MRI on his left hamstring Tuesday. Young, averaging 15.1 points and 7.4 rebounds, needed assistance as he hobbled back to the locker room.

"It's bad news, man," Sixers guard Nick Young said. "Thad's one of our anchors on our team. Lose him for a couple of games while we're trying to make a push, it's tough."

Nick Young had 15 points to help the Sixers win three straight games for the first time since the final three games of November. Hawes and Young both scored big buckets during a 14-1 run in the third quarter that helped the Sixers put away the undermanned Magic.

Orlando listed six players as inactive in its 10th straight loss. E'Twaun Moore had 18 points and Nik Vucevic grabbed 14 rebounds.

The Sixers lost leading rebounder Thaddeus Young to a strained left hamstring late in the first half.

Each team lived up to their futile free-throw shooting numbers: The Sixers were 3 of 5 and Orlando 6 of 8. The Magic were attempting 16 free-throws a game and the Sixers 16.9. Orlando missed 11 of 12 3-pointers and the Sixers missed 17 of 20.

Nick Young's 3-pointer and Hawes' thunderous baseline dunk during the third-quarter spurt pushed the lead from three points to 58-42. From there, the Sixers cruised, getting a rare, comfortable win at home. Philadelphia improved to 15-11 at home.

The Magic had six players out, notably leading scorer Arron Afflalo (strained left calf), Jameer Nelson (bruised left forearm), J.J. Redick (sore right shoulder) and Glen Davis (broken left foot). DeQuan Jones (sore left foot) and Al Harrington (right knee) also sat out.

Orlando started Moore and Ish Smith in the backcourt and Vucevic, Josh McRoberts and Maurice Harkless in the frontcourt.

"I really give credit to the character of the guys that suit up and play," coach Jacque Vaughn said. "They had it in their minds that we were going to come here and play hard and try and get a win. Nothing less."

Orlando is the only NBA team with multiple double-digit losing streaks and the 61 points was the second-fewest allowed by the Sixers since the shot clock era began in the 1954-55 season.

Harkless and Vucevic were acquired from the Sixers in the four-team trade that sent Lakers All-Star center Andrew Bynum to Philadelphia. While Bynum has yet to play this season because of bone bruises in both knees, Vucevic has blossomed into a double-double threat. Vucevic, who played only 3 total minutes in Philadelphia's two postseason series last season, has averaged 12.1 points and 11.3 rebounds and clearly found a home in Orlando.

"We knew that Nik was going to be a tremendous player," Collins said. "Obviously, to have to give him up was not something we wanted to do. But in order to make the Andrew Bynum deal, we had to do that."

Bynum is inching closer to a debut and said before the game he was still on target for a mid-February return. Bynum received an injection of Synvisc - a gel-like substance that sometimes provides relief for inflamed tissue - last week. The natural substance is designed to lubricate and cushion the joint.

He said he still feels some pain in the left knee, but the right knee is "phenomenal."

"I just want the first game to come," Bynum said. "I definitely won't be nervous."

The Sixers are a bit on edge after losing Thaddeus Young. Lavoy Allen played the bulk of the minutes in the second half.

"Thad's the one guy on our team that will dive for those loose balls," Collins said. "He lays himself out and, unfortunately, he got hurt on that play."

Young went down not far from entertainer Will Smith, who owns a small stake in the 76ers. Smith sat a few seats down from the Sixers' bench and waved to the crowd when he was shown on the big screen.

After Nick Young wowed the crowd in the first quarter with a 360-degree fastbreak dunk, one security guard exclaimed, "That's why he's showing off, Will Smith's down there!"

But the fun didn't last long. The Magic sliced a 16-point hole down to 42-35 at the break. Vucevic had 12 rebounds to show his old team a dose of what they're missing in the paint.

NOTES: Allen turned 24 on Monday. ... Nelson said he was hit in the "funny part of my forearm," and shouldn't miss much time. The former Saint Joseph's All-American exchanged a big postgame hug with Hawks coach Phil Martelli. ... 76ers G Jason Richardson (left knee) sat out again. Collins said Richardson could be out for some time.

Notebook: 76ers 78, Magic 61

Andy Jasner, for NBA.com
Posted Mon Feb 04, 2013 10:17 PM - Updated Mon Feb 04, 2013 10:17 PM

THE FACTS: Spencer Hawes scored 21 points and swept a season-high 14 rebounds, Nick Young scored 15 points and the Philadelphia 76ers defeated the depleted Orlando Magic, 78-61, Monday night at the Wells Fargo Center. Jrue Holiday scored 13 points and handed out 14 assists while Lavoy Allen had 10 points for the Sixers, who won their third straight game. The Sixers improved to 21-26 and won three in a row for the first time since Nov. 25-30. But the news wasn't all good because forward Thaddeus Young crumpled to the floor with 5:46 left in the second quarter and didn't return because of a left hamstring strain. The Sixers didn't give a definitive timetable for Young's return, but coach Doug Collins said it would be "a while."

E'Twaun Moore led the reeling Magic with 18 points while Andrew Nicholson scored 11 points. Former Sixer Nikola Vucevic had nine points and 14 rebounds and Maurice Harkless had 10 points. The Magic fell to 14-34 and dropped their 10th straight game.

QUOTABLE: "It's going to be hard. You can't just replace that, what he brings every night."
-- Hawes, on the loss of Thaddeus Young.

THE STAT: The Magic had just 61 points, the second-fewest allowed by the Sixers since the shot clock was introduced for the 1954-55 season. It was also a floor record for least points by an opponent at the Wells Fargo Center, which opened in 1996.

TURNING POINT: The Sixers led by just seven points at halftime but turned up the intensity in the third, increasing a 42-35 advantage to 60-46. They were never seriously threatened again.

HOT: Hawes was 9-for-17 and Allen was 5-for-9.

NOT: Josh McRoberts struggled mightily for the Magic, going 2-for-12. Vucevic was 3-for-10 and Ish Smith was 2-for-10. The Magic shot 27-for-80 -- 33.8 percent.

QUOTABLE II: "We did what we were supposed to do. We beat a team with a ton of injuries."
-- Collins.

FANTASY SPOTLIGHT: Hawes had 21 points, 14 rebounds (13 off the defensive glass), three assists and one blocked shot.

INSIDE THE ARENA: There wasn't much of a buzz inside the arena for much of the night against the Magic. Will Smith, who owns a stake in the Sixers, took in all the action from a front-row seat and received a huge ovation from the crowd of 14,630.

QUOTABLE III: "We've been banged up all year and we've just continued to fight. We have to keep going out there and playing hard and we can't worry about who's hurt. It's been a season filled with injuries and we've just played through it while giving everything we've got."
-- Vucevic.

GOOD MOVE: Hawes played extended minutes and responded with arguably his finest game of the season in 36:52. He contributed in every way imaginable and proved he's capable of producing, even with added playing time.

BAD MOVE: The Magic could have gone to Vucevic more often. While Vucevic took 10 shots, he was also getting good looks in the low post.

ROOKIE WATCH: Nicholson had 11 points and Harkless had 10. Forward Kyle O'Quinn had two points and four rebounds in 17:15. For the Sixers, forward Arnett Moultrie tied his career high with four points in 11:43.

NOTABLE: Injured Sixers center Andrew Bynum met with reporters about 30 minutes before tip-off. Bynum has missed the entire season with bilateral bone bruises on both knees. But Bynum said he is hoping to play his first game this month. "Not a specific target, but February is the target," Bynum said. He added that an official practice date hasn't been set and he is anxious to make his debut for the Sixers. "I just want my first game to come," Bynum said. "I definitely won't be nervous." ... The Magic played without guards Jameer Nelson (left forearm contusion), J.J. Redick (sore right shoulder) and Arron Afflalo (strained left calf) along with forwards Glen Davis (fractured left foot), Al Harrington (right knee) and DeQuan Jones (sore left foot). ... Sixers guard Jason Richardson missed his sixth consecutive game with left knee synovitis. ... The Magic have now lost 10 straight games for the second time this season, the only team in the league to do so. ... Hawes registered his third double-double over the past six games and his seventh of the season. The Sixers are 14-10 when Hawes scores 10 or more points in a game. ... Holiday recorded his 13th double-double. ... The Magic shot 1-for-12 from beyond the arc while the Sixers were 3-for-20.

NEXT: For the Magic, Wednesday vs. L.A. Clippers, Friday @ Cleveland, Sunday vs. Portland. For the Sixers, Wednesday vs. Indiana, Saturday vs. Charlotte, Monday vs. L.A. Clippers.

• Magic: Afflalo, Harrington
• 76ers: Bynum

• Magic: --
• 76ers: --

• Lead Changes: 2
• Times Tied: 2

• Arena: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA
• Officials: #17 Joe Crawford, #50 Olandis Poole, #65 Sean Wright
• Attendance: 14630
• Duration: 1:51