FINAL: Orlando Magic 113 - Philadelphia 76ers 95

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March 21, 2008 - Amway Arena

	1	2	3	4	F
SIXERS	19	17	24	35	95
MAGIC	33	25	30	25	113

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By Nick Adams | OrlandoMagic.com

FOURTH QUARTER
The Magic take a 28 point lead into the final period and continue to pour it on to begin the fourth as they have built their lead to 32 points.

Orlando is really feeding off the Amway crowd which is led by the Turkish fan club and I think have played their best all around game of the season I have seen here at home.

J.J. Redick checks into the game halfway through the fourth to a standing ovation and his former Duke teammate Shavlik Randolph checks in for the Sixers.

The place absolutely goes nuts as J.J. hits a jumper...you would have thought the Magic just won the NBA Championship. Despite being up 30 points, the Magic fans and the arena is just as loud as it was to begin the contest.

Pat Garrity aka "Instant Offense" comes into the game and buckets a turn-around jumper in the lane the very first time he touches the rock.

The symbolic white flag has been waved as both teams clear their benches, but most of the Amway faithful has stuck around, mainly to cheer on J.J.

A great performance tonight as the Magic win big.

Final: Orlando Magic 113, Philadelphia 76ers 95

THIRD QUARTER
Lewis scores the first points of the second half making good on a layin. Both teams come out on fire as they go back-and-forth, Philadelphia calls a timeout as the Magic take their largest lead of the game at 23 points.

The Sixers get four straight points but Mo Evans comes right back with a triple to put the Magic ahead 72-45 halfway through the third.

Evans cans another trey but Iguodala comes right back with one of his own. The Magic have been on fire from downtown tonight shooting 11-of-16.

After taking a 30 point lead, the Sixers go on a 7-0 run but Turk converts a three-point play to put the Magic ahead 80-54 with four minutes to go in the third.

The Magic build their lead back up to 30 as all Magic starters have scored in double figures. Jameer Nelson has 12 points, Mo Evans 12, Howard 13, and Lewis and Turk lead the way with 16 points apiece.

The quarter closes with the Magic in command of a 28 point lead.

End of Third: Orlando Magic 88, Philadelphia 76ers 60

SECOND QUARTER
A great tribute at the end of the first as the Magic recognized the Magic's first ever head coach Matt Guokas by presenting him with a plaque and a huge poster on the Amway concourse.

The Magic start the second period off sluggish forcing a timeout from Van Gundy as a once 22 point advantage has been trimmed down to ten.

Lewis finally gets Magic back on track by stroking a three from the left wing on a nice feed from Turk. Turk is playing the role of facilitator tonight as he feeds Foyle for two and Bogans for three to give Hedo six assists thus far.

Another great moment here at Amway when the Magic "Salute the Soilders" during a timeout as the entire crowd stands to cheer for those who serve our country.

Dooling scores back-to-back buckets to put the Magic back ahead by 20 at 48-28 with 4:14 left in the first half.

In the two teams' last meeting, Willie Green and Andre Miller lit up the Magic, but tonight the Magic guards have held the two in check as they have combined for just three points. The Magic call a timeout leading 52-33 with 2:11 remaining in the second.

Lewis scores his tenth point of the night by stroking a mid-range jumper as the half concludes with the Magic ahead by 22 points.

Halftime: Orlando Magic 58, Philadelphia 76ers 36

FIRST QUARTER
Good evening Magic fans and welcome to a soldout Amway Arena as the Magic get ready for another possible playoff preview by hosting the red hot Philadelphia 76ers.

The place is packed and loud as the two teams meet at center court. Starting for the Magic is Jameer Nelson, Mo Evans, Hedo Turkoglu, Rashard Lewis, and Dwight Howard. The Sixers counter with Andre Miller, Willie Green, Andre Iguodala, Thadus Young, and Samuel Dalembert.

The Magic start the game off in style as Nelson feeds Howard for back-to-back alley-oops to give the Magic an early 4-0 lead. Nelson helps himself on the following possesion by drilling a triple from the corner. Lewis gets in the act by stroking a jumper and Evans scores a three to force a timeout from Sixers head coach Maurice Cheeks with the Magic leading 12-4, three minutes into the opening period. The Magic have shot a perfect 5-for-5 to start the game.

During the timeout chants of "He-Do, He-Do" echo throughout the crowd so I look up and there is about 300 people for Turkey waving Turkish flags in support of their country hero. Turk gives his fans something to cheer about as he nets a three bringing his fan club goes nuts in the upper bowl.

Orlando is on fire as back-to-back hoops by Lewis and Turk put the Magic ahead 22-8 as we head under five minutes remaining in the first.

This is how the Magic need to come out every night. They have moved the ball well on offense posting 13 assists thus far and have shot the lights out converting on six three-point field-goals. Not only have they played well offensively, but they have done a superb job at the defensive end forcing Philly into tough shots while holding them to just 31 percent shooting.

The Sixers make a run to end the quarter but the Magic take a 14 point lead into the second period.

End of First: Orlando Magic 33, Philadelphia 76ers 19

PREGAME
Two of the hottest teams in the Eastern Conference square off at Amway Arena on Friday night as the Orlando Magic (45-25) host the Philadelphia 76ers (34-34).

The Sixers have won 10 out of their last 12 contests while posting a 16-6 record over the last month and a half; however, the Magic have won two out of three against the Sixers during that span.

Philadelphia's success can be credited to their increase in offensive productivity. The Sixers who normally average a modest 96.6 points per game have averaged nearly 105 points in their last 12 games.

Philadelphia is led by a potent duo of Andres, point guard Andre Miller (17.2 ppg, 6.7 apg) and small forward Andre Iguodala (19.8 ppg).

Iguodala is sixth in the league in steals helping the Sixers whom as a team rank fifth posting 8.5 takeaways a game.

Rebounding is another strength for the Sixers who allow the second fewest opponent rebounds per game led by center Samuel Dalembert's team-high 10.1 boards.

Orlando has been lead by Hedo Turkoglu and Dwight Howard and the dynamic tandem has dominated Philadelphia this season.

Turkoglu has averaged 24.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 6.3 assists while Howard has tallied 17.3 points and 16.0 rebounds in three meetings with the Sixers.

The Magic enter their fourth match-up with the Sixers having won 11 out of their last 14 contests as they look to inch closer to their first Southeast Division crown by handling Philadelphia Friday night.

MAGIC INJURY REPORT
Tony Battie – Out, torn rotator cuff, left shoulder – underwent successful surgery on Oct. 24; will likely miss the entire season.


TONIGHT’S OPPONENT:
Mar. 21 vs. Philadelphia (Orlando, FL): Orlando is 48-26 all-time vs. Philadelphia (27-9 at home, 21-17 on the road) during the regular season, including 2-1 this season (see recaps below)…The Magic went 2-1 last season against the Sixers…The Magic are 1-3 in postseason play against the Sixers (1999 First Round)...Orlando has won seven of the last 10, 19 of the last 29 and 26 of the last 40 meetings overall...The Magic have won six of the last eight meetings at home and five of the last eight on the road…Jameer Nelson played 125 career games at Saint Joseph’s from 2000-04 and attended Chester High School…Pat Williams, who spent 12 seasons as Sixers GM, serves as Senior VP for the Magic...TV analyst Matt Guokas was born and raised in Philadelphia - He attended Saint Joseph’s, was the Sixers’ first round pick in 1966, played four seasons with Philadelphia, served as an assistant coach for three-plus seasons during the early-mid 1980s and was head coach from 1985-88…For last season’s stats and Magic career numbers vs. Philadelphia, see p. 273 of the media guide…Feb. 1 @ Philadelphia – Magic 108, Sixers 106: Hedo Turkoglu scored 23 points, including the go-ahead free throws with 2.4 seconds left, as Orlando edged Philadelphia, 108-106, at Wachovia Center. Six Magic players scored in double figures, including Rashard Lewis with 18 points and Dwight Howard with 17 points and 14 rebounds. Andre Miller led the Sixers with 23 points and 11 assists, while Louis Williams netted 20. There were 21 lead changes and 19 ties during the tightly-contested outing. After Turkoglu hit two free throws, Philadelphia had one final possession. However, Keith Bogans stole the in-bounds pass and Orlando escaped with the win…Feb. 22 vs. Philadelphia – Magic 115, Sixers 99: Hedo Turkoglu poured in a season-high 31 points, including 7-of-11 from three-point range, as Orlando defeated Philadelphia, 115-99, at a sold-out Amway Arena. Dwight Howard tallied 24 points, 18 rebounds and three blocked shots for the Magic, while Rashard Lewis and Jameer Nelson each added 17 points. Andre Iguodala and Andre Miller led the Sixers with 25 points apiece. Orlando shot 51.2 percent from the floor and was 15-of-33 from three-point range. They also dished out 24 assists. Turkoglu and Lewis combined to score 24 points during the fourth quarter, helping the Magic pull away and record the victory…Feb. 27 @ Philadelphia – Sixers 101, Magic 89: Three Sixers scored 20-or-more points, led by Andre Miller and Willie Green with 26 points each, as Philadelphia defeated Orlando, 101-89, at Wachovia Center. Andre Iguodala added 24 points for Philadelphia. Hedo Turkoglu paced the Magic with 20 points. Philadelphia led from start to finish, hitting 11 of its first 12 shots from the floor. They also held the Magic without a made field goal for nearly the entire second quarter, outscoring Orlando, 28-17, in the stanza. The Sixers led by as many as 24 points.
BEST ALL-TIME SCORING PERFORMANCE VS. SIXERS: 44 pts., Tracy McGrady (@ Philadelphia, 3-28-01)
BEST ALL-TIME SCORING PERFORMANCE VS. MAGIC: 60 pts., Allen Iverson (@ Philadelphia, 2-12-05)