> At a Glance
> – Philadelphia erased a cold-shooting first half to beat Orlando 103-91
> – Tyrese Maxey (29 pts) and Joel Embiid (22 pts) sparked the third-quarter run
> – Magic missing four key players, including both Wagner brothers and Jalen Suggs
> – Why it matters: win keeps Philly in East playoff hunt while exposing Orlando’s injury-ravaged depth
The 76ers moved to 21-15 by overcoming a 0-for-12 start from three-point range and outscoring the Magic 55-43 after halftime in Orlando.
Ice-Cold Start, Hot Finish
Philiday night’s tip-off looked like a brick festival: the teams combined to hit only 3 of 33 threes in the first half. Maxey missed his first six shots and the Sixers trailed 6-1 before coach Nick Nurse burned an early timeout.
The tide turned after the break.
- Maxey found his touch, drilling two third-quarter triples en route to 29 points and 3 steals
- Embiid battered Orlando inside, finishing with 22 points and 9 rebounds
- Paul George kept the bench stretch humming, posting 18 pts, 9 reb, 3 ast, 3 stl
Hidden Stats That Mattered
Ugly percentages didn’t sink Philly because they dominated the glass and the free-throw line:
| Category | Sixers | Magic |
|---|---|---|
| Offensive Rebounds | 21 | 9 |
| Turnovers | 13 | 19 |
| FT Makes | 21 | 15 |
Orlando dressed only nine healthy bodies. Missing Franz Wagner, Mo Wagner, Jalen Suggs and rookie Tristan da Silva, the Magic leaned on Desmond Bane (23 pts) and Anthony Black (21 pts). Paolo Banchero added 14 pts, 11 reb, 7 ast but lacked support.
Key Takeaways
- Philadelphia’s 21 offensive boards tied a season high and masked 14.3% three-point shooting
- Health advantage loomed large: Sixers had full roster for a second straight game
- Up next: Philly faces Toronto in a back-to-back Sunday and Monday
A night that began with clanks ended with cheers as the Sixers banked their fifth victory in six tries despite setting season lows in made threes and long-range percentage.
