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| 4:00 PM PT5:00 PM MT6:00 PM CT7:00 PM ET0:00 GMT8:00 5:00 PM MST7:00 PM EST4:00 UAE (+1)01:0019:00 ET6:00 PM CTNaN:� , January 30, 2023 Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Attendance: 19,812 |
To 76ers' Joel Embiid, Magic just next obstacle toward title
Orlando Magic at Philadelphia 76ers
- Starting with its 108-101 win in the 2020 bubble, Philadelphia has won each of its last 10 games against Orlando. It is the longest win streak by either team in series history and more than double the Sixers' previous longest win streak in the series (four straight wins, twice).
- The Magic recorded zero blocks in a 128-109 loss to Chicago Saturday, ending a streak of 201 straight team games with at least one block. That was the third-longest streak in Magic history behind streaks of 483 (ending in 1998-99) and 262 (ending in 2017-18) games.
- In their loss to the Bulls, the Magic had two bench players score 20 or more points (Cole Anthony and Mo Wagner) and no starters score more than 11 points. It was the second time in franchise history that had happened joining a loss to the Pistons on January 3, 2000.
- Philadelphia is on a seven-game win streak, having shot better than 50.0 percent in each of their last six wins. This century, only one NBA team has a longer win streak with a field-goal percentage higher than 50.0 percent in each game (Boston, seven in 2010-11).
- In the win over Denver, Joel Embiid became the first NBA player since Chris Webber in 2000-01 to have 18 made field goals, 18 rebounds, multiple steals and multiple blocks in a game.
- After its win over Denver, Philadelphia is 2-2 at home this season in games it trailed by double digits at halftime. Only Milwaukee (4-3) has a better home record this season when trailing by at least 10 points at halftime.
Joel Embiid repeatedly has said that he believes he was snubbed when he didn't win the Most Valuable Player award each of the past two seasons when Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets did.
Then just this week, Embiid said he was surprised that he wasn't named as a starter in the upcoming NBA All-Star Game despite leading the league in scoring.
Embiid used these situations as motivation in a stirring 47-point, 18-rebound performance in a 126-119 win over the Nuggets on Saturday.
He'll have another chance to build his case for redemption when the Sixers look for their eighth consecutive victory as they host the Orlando Magic on Monday.
"I think it's more of a motivation to go out there and try win the whole thing," Embiid said. "I guess that's the only way I'm probably going to get that respect. I think that we've got a pretty good chance."
Since starting the season 12-12, the Sixers have gone 20-4 to surge into second place in the Eastern Conference.
The Sixers' success is largely connected to Embiid, who produced his 33rd career game with at least 40 points and 10 rebounds, according to ESPN Stats and Information. Since the 1976-77 season, Embiid has the second-most 40-10 performances, trailing only Shaquille O'Neal with 43.
Embiid also sparked a second-half comeback after the Sixers looked a bit flat and trailed 73-58 at the half.
"To come back and be able to win that game, it gives us a lot of confidence," Embiid said. "If we can clean up a lot of areas defensively, I think we could be even better. It's good to see. We've got a chance to win. We've got to keep winning. The key is to stay healthy."
James Harden also was impressive with 17 points, 13 assists and no turnovers.
The Magic will look to avoid a third straight loss when they battle the Sixers.
Orlando fell 128-109 to the Chicago Bulls on Saturday, though it whittled a 25-point deficit down to six with 5:08 remaining.
Moritz Wagner paced the Magic with 27 points, but the poor start was too much to overcome.
"Obviously, the energy level wasn't where we wanted to start the game," Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said. "I really think sometimes it falls down to taking the easy route, in some ways. When it's hard, you just want to catch and shoot. But we weren't making shots and that takes its toll on the defense. But we have to be a defensive team first, whether the shots are falling or not."
Cole Anthony added 21 points, six rebounds and six assists and provided a spark down the stretch.
But the Magic's furious comeback landed short.
"This is not an excuse but we were just flat," Wagner said. "And part of that was we put our head down too quickly. We kind of let go of our focus."
Orlando's Markelle Fultz will return to Philadelphia to play the team that made him the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. Fultz struggled with criticism from poor shooting and a shoulder injury with the Sixers.
In 29 games (all starts) this season, Fultz is averaging 12.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 5.6 assists.
--Field Level Media
Updated January 30, 2023
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