The Philadelphia 76ers are in Orlando on Friday night to take on the Magic in a battle of Eastern Conference mid-seeds. While the Magic are looking to build upon an OT win, 104-103, over the Nets on Wednesday night, the Sixers are coming off a blowout of the Wizards, 131-110, and are 4-1 over their last five games.
Who: Philadelphia 76ers (20-15) at Orlando Magic (21-17)
When: 7:00 p.m. EST
Where: Kia Center, Orlando, FL.
Watch: NBC. Sports Philadelphia, NBA League Pass, FanDuel Sports Network, Florida
Friday night in Orlando, the Sixers are starting a critical week of their season against the Magic before playing two games against the Raptors, then two against the Cavaliers, all by next Friday. With all four of the teams bunched into the fourth through eighth seeds in the conference, this week could turn the tide for the Sixers, one way or the other.
The Sixers are as healthy as they've been in years right now as Trendon Watford and Kelly Oubre Jr. made their long-awaited returns to the lineup against the Wizards. For tonight's game, Joel Embiid is listed as questionable, but he's played in the team's last five games and could use a game to rest. Embiid is as healthy as he's been in a long time, and it looks like the Sixers' plan to bring him along slowly is paying off.
With the team close to full strength, head coach Nick Nurse now has to find the right balance for both ends of the court, utilizing the size that Oubre Jr. and Watford bring to the table, something the team has been "short" on in their absence. Rotating Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, and Quentin Grimes will be a little easier knowing that there are front-court players who can handle their roles.
Star Franz Wagner and brother Mo are both out for this matchup as is defensive maestro Jalen Suggs.
The team has had a difficult time putting everything together, especially for extended periods. They've beaten the Sixers, Knicks, and Celtics earlier in the season, but then they lost to the Hornets and Wizards and barely beat a Nets team that doesn't want to win. (Sound familiar Sixers fans?)
While their team stats like Assist to turnover ratio, offensive and defensive ratings, true shooting percentage, and more, all are in the same vicinity as the Sixers, the team is just one that you don't know who'll show up.
The Sixers had a dreadful loss to the Nuggets, then came back to hammer the Wizards, just to prove that they could do it. With the Magic sitting right behind them in the conference standings, the Sixers are going to put some space between them, especially with the Raptors and Cavaliers on deck this week.
While Joel Embiid may sit out tonight's game, the Sixers have plenty of weapons, and Nick Nurse should utilize the athleticism that he has available to him, especially with the return of Watford and Oubre Jr. Rotating the forwards with Paul George and Dominick Barlow would give the Sixers quality play on both sides of the court.
The only real issue for the game tonight is how many highlights you'll get from Maxey and Edgecombe. The duo combined for 35 points, 9 rebounds, and 15 assists against the Wizards, and that's more because Maxey only played 28 minutes. Against the Magic, look for the new dynamic duo to get out and push more with the team playing at a higher pace than usual.
Sixers 121 - Magic 115
