The Philadelphia 76ers are in Orlando on Friday night to take on the Magic. In sore need of a win, the Sixers hope that the return of Joel Embiid and Paul George will put them over the top against a team that’s undefeated at home and on a four-game winning streak.
The Magic will be without Paolo Banchero and Wendell Carter Jr., who’ve missed the last eight and six games, making the team’s winning streak all the more impressive.
Sixers game information
Who: Philadelphia 76ers (2-9) at Orlando Magic (7-6)
When: 7 p.m. EST
Where: Kia Center, Orlando, FL.
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia, NBA League Pass, Bally Sports Florida
What to watch for
Joel Embiid and Paul George returning to the court alongside Jared McCain may be a great show tonight. If the Sixers use Embiid, who improved a lot as a passer last season, coupled with the intelligence and movement that PG can provide, it should open up the floor for McCain, who’s coming off a career night against the Cavaliers in which he scored 34 points and dished out 10 assists.
McCain should be starting, and head coach Nick Nurse said that he would “consider” that going forward. No one predicted the young guard to show this much talent and ability this early in the season or his career. He’s a home run, so far, for the Sixers.
Embiid will need to establish himself against Gaga Bitadze and Moritz Wagner, who both have enough size to keep Embiid on his toes as he tries to get himself going in just his second game of the season.
If he can establish himself early in the game and get the two Magic big men into some foul trouble, the Sixers may find themselves with a smooth game and an easy win. If Embiid struggles, as he looked in his first game back against the Knicks, the Sixers will be in for a long night.
With the Magic missing two of their better players, they keep winning and going against a Sixers team that’s as healthy as they’ve been all season, which will not be a good thing to do at this time.
The Sixers, despite their record, are a much better team than they’ve shown and as they get healthier and they’re able to put their ideal starting lineup on the floor, it’s going to get better.
For tonight, they’re going to need to get the best out of Embiid and George while hoping that the usage of those two doesn’t inhibit the continued growth and success of McCain. The team will need Caleb Martin and Guershon Yabusele to do their best at shutting down Franz Wagner if they’re going to leave Orlando with a victory.
Prediction
Sixers 117 – Magic 112
Latest on the Magic
The Orlando Magic are on a four game winning streak and are undefeated at home in the early going of the season. They’re missing Paolo Banchero and Wendell Carter Jr., which should be a good thing for the Sixers and a huge detriment to the Magic. The problem, for the Sixers, is that despite missing two of their better players, the Magic have continued rolling over the past four games.
Franz Wagner has been playing out of his mind of late, while the team awaits the return of Banchero. Wagner is averaging 21.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.7 assists on the season but he’s been giving the team 27.8 points per game over their four game winning streak. He’s been the big guy for the team as they’re facing an uphill battle without two of the biggest stars.
Outside of Wagner, there isn’t anyone else who’s been lighting it up for the Magic, but what they’re doing is getting points from the whole roster. Players like Jalen Suggs, Moritz Wagner, Anthony Black, Gaga Bidatze, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and even Jonathan Isaac have been contributing as the team has spread their minutes throughout the whole roster. Keeping fresh legs on the court and getting contributions from them all has allowed the Magic to make the most of their depleted roster.
What to watch for
Joel Embiid and Paul George returning to the court alongside Jared McCain may be a great show tonight. If the Sixers use Embiid, who improved a lot as a passer last season, coupled with the intelligence and movement that PG can provide, it should open up the floor for McCain, who’s coming off a career night against the Cavaliers in which he scored 34 points and dished out 10 assists.
McCain should be starting, and head coach Nick Nurse said that he would “consider” that going forward. No one predicted the young guard to show this much talent and ability this early in the season or his career. He’s a home run, so far, for the Sixers.
Embiid will need to establish himself against Gaga Bitadze and Moritz Wagner, who both have enough size to keep Embiid on his toes as he tries to get himself going in just his second game of the season.
If he can establish himself early in the game and get the two Magic big men into some foul trouble, the Sixers may find themselves with a smooth game and an easy win. If Embiid struggles, as he looked in his first game back against the Knicks, the Sixers will be in for a long night.
With the Magic missing two of their better players, they keep winning and going against a Sixers team that’s as healthy as they’ve been all season, which will not be a good thing to do at this time.
The Sixers, despite their record, are a much better team than they’ve shown and as they get healthier and they’re able to put their ideal starting lineup on the floor, it’s going to get better.
For tonight, they’re going to need to get the best out of Embiid and George while hoping that the usage of those two doesn’t inhibit the continued growth and success of McCain. The team will need Caleb Martin and Guershon Yabusele to do their best at shutting down Franz Wagner if they’re going to leave Orlando with a victory.
Prediction
Sixers 117 – Magic 112
Latest on the Sixers
The Sixers have struggled to start the season, and injuries have hurt the team. As soon as Joel Embiid and Paul George returned, the team lost All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey to a hamstring injury for multiple weeks. Embiid and George are expected to play on Friday night, and the emergence of rookie guard Jared McCain can ease Maxey’s absence.
Having Embiid and George back is huge for the team that did well in its loss to Cleveland on Wednesday night. The key for Embiid is to get back to his normal, dominating self and begin to get himself back on track for the remaining part of the year. George will be without a minutes restriction, according to head coach Nick Nurse, and should be able to give the Sixers some much-needed firepower.
The Sixers need some of their other players to really step up. Caleb Martin has put together two very good games over the past two, shooting well from the floor and giving the Sixers 17.5 points over the past two. Guerschon Yabusele had a horrible game against the Knicks but has sandwiched the game with a few really good ones against the Cavaliers, Hornets, and Lakers. The Sixers will be looking for both to step up against an injured Magic team and get themselves back to winning.
Latest on the Magic
The Orlando Magic are on a four game winning streak and are undefeated at home in the early going of the season. They’re missing Paolo Banchero and Wendell Carter Jr., which should be a good thing for the Sixers and a huge detriment to the Magic. The problem, for the Sixers, is that despite missing two of their better players, the Magic have continued rolling over the past four games.
Franz Wagner has been playing out of his mind of late, while the team awaits the return of Banchero. Wagner is averaging 21.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.7 assists on the season but he’s been giving the team 27.8 points per game over their four game winning streak. He’s been the big guy for the team as they’re facing an uphill battle without two of the biggest stars.
Outside of Wagner, there isn’t anyone else who’s been lighting it up for the Magic, but what they’re doing is getting points from the whole roster. Players like Jalen Suggs, Moritz Wagner, Anthony Black, Gaga Bidatze, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and even Jonathan Isaac have been contributing as the team has spread their minutes throughout the whole roster. Keeping fresh legs on the court and getting contributions from them all has allowed the Magic to make the most of their depleted roster.
What to watch for
Joel Embiid and Paul George returning to the court alongside Jared McCain may be a great show tonight. If the Sixers use Embiid, who improved a lot as a passer last season, coupled with the intelligence and movement that PG can provide, it should open up the floor for McCain, who’s coming off a career night against the Cavaliers in which he scored 34 points and dished out 10 assists.
McCain should be starting, and head coach Nick Nurse said that he would “consider” that going forward. No one predicted the young guard to show this much talent and ability this early in the season or his career. He’s a home run, so far, for the Sixers.
Embiid will need to establish himself against Gaga Bitadze and Moritz Wagner, who both have enough size to keep Embiid on his toes as he tries to get himself going in just his second game of the season.
If he can establish himself early in the game and get the two Magic big men into some foul trouble, the Sixers may find themselves with a smooth game and an easy win. If Embiid struggles, as he looked in his first game back against the Knicks, the Sixers will be in for a long night.
With the Magic missing two of their better players, they keep winning and going against a Sixers team that’s as healthy as they’ve been all season, which will not be a good thing to do at this time.
The Sixers, despite their record, are a much better team than they’ve shown and as they get healthier and they’re able to put their ideal starting lineup on the floor, it’s going to get better.
For tonight, they’re going to need to get the best out of Embiid and George while hoping that the usage of those two doesn’t inhibit the continued growth and success of McCain. The team will need Caleb Martin and Guershon Yabusele to do their best at shutting down Franz Wagner if they’re going to leave Orlando with a victory.
Prediction
Sixers 117 – Magic 112
