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Denton: Magic at Sixers Analysis (12/3/13)

Josh Cohen
Digital News Manager

By John Denton Dec. 3, 2013

PHILADELPHIA – All throughout Tuesday night, Orlando Magic standouts Arron Afflalo, Glen ``Big Baby’’ Davis and Victor Oladipo offered up the kind of stirring performances that won’t soon be forgotten.

They willed Orlando through clutch comebacks several times late in the game, getting the Magic tied or ahead following deficits of eight points in the fourth quarter and five points in the first overtime. Many times, it had the feel of three Magic players simply refusing to let their team lose a gripping, back-and-forth game.

Afflalo had one of the most clutch moments of his career when he calmly drilled three free throws with 12.1 seconds remaining in the first overtime to tie the game and force a second OT. It was all a part of a career-best 43-point night for the seven-year NBA veteran.

But when Afflalo didn’t score in the second overtime period until the final seconds, Davis fouled out and Oladipo couldn’t come through despite a stellar triple-double performance, the Magic had to cope with a frustrating 126-125 double-overtime loss to the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center.

``Just a great, great effort from our guys,’’ Magic coach Jacque Vaughn said. ``It was a great mix. Our guys got us back in the game and gave us a chance to win the game. We rode that unit to the end of the game and into the overtimes. They all gave it what they had and I appreciate it.’’

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