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ShareMonday, January 30, 7:00 PM at the Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA
 12-8 (3rd in Southeast, 6th in East) |
VS |
 14-6 (1st in Atlantic, 4th in East) |
TV: Comcast SportsNet Radio: WIP Tickets | TV Companion
| Preview | At The Show | Ticket Deals | Broadcasts | Live Stats |
As the Sixers head into the back end of a 7-game home stand, the competition stiffens beginning tonight with the Orlando Magic, who at 12-8 are also in the Eastern Conference dogfight with the Sixers. Orlando has lost three straight and dropped five of their last seven, including a loss to the Pacers yesterday. The Sixers have won two in a row and seven of their last 10, entering tonight's contest after a welcome day off.
Historically, Orlando's two-pronged attack with Dwight Howard sticking down low and shooters loading up from beyond the arc has proved a difficult match-up for the Sixers, who took just one of four games off them last season. Though Philadelphia has been able to keep Howard's shooting slightly down (53% vs the Sixers compared to 59% overall last season), they've often resorted to fouling when he gets into dangerous positions in the paint, so his overall production hasn't been bothered much. Howard is averaging a career-high 15.5 rebounds per game but his field-percentage (56.6%) is at its lowest since 2005-06 and his free-throw shooting is at a career-low 46.4% (Howard has never shot below 58% on a season).
At 38.9%, Orlando and Philadelphia are tied for the third-highest three-point percentage in the NBA, though at 24.2 attempts per game from beyond the arc, Orlando ranks only behind New Jersey for jacking up long range shots. Last season the Sixers were able to chase the Magic's shooters off the line as they attempted 3.6 fewer threes per game against Philadelphia than they did on the season. Now taking up a larger role for Orlando, Ryan Anderson has become their second-leading scorer at 16.3 ppg and is shooting a career-high 43% from beyond the arc, which ties him with Jodie Meeks at no. 19 in the league.
With the Sixers' first two centers still nursing injuries, they'll need extra effort from Lavoy Allen, Francisco Elson and Tony Battie to help on the interior defense and boards. Battie offers not just another big body but personal experience as well, as he played with Dwight Howard for four years in Orlando. While some of the Sixers' defenders are often free to roam against other opponents, tonight they'll be busy covering Orlando's shooters so Philly must rely on veterans like Battie and Elton Brand to direct the defense from down low.
Season Leaders
 Lou Williams: 15.7 PTS |
POINTS |
 Dwight Howard: 20.2 PTS |
 Spencer Hawes: 8.8REB |
REBOUNDS |
Dwight Howard: 15.5 REB |
 Andre Iguodala: 5.0 AST |
ASSISTS |
 Jameer Nelson: 5.1 AST |
Game Notes | Schedule | Standings | Stats | Injury Report
