The Philadelphia 76ers, sitting at 9-7, will look to notch another win against a Florida team on Tuesday. After falling to the Miami Heat, they’ll aim to bounce back quickly as the NBA Cup winds down.
This will be the second and final time the Sixers host the Orlando Magic in the regular season. The teams previously met in late October, with Philadelphia pulling out a 136-124 victory. Tyrese Maxey (46 points) and VJ Edgecombe (26 points) led the charge in that win.
The Magic got off to a rough start this season. Historically, they’ve ranked in the bottom half offensively over the past five years, and early on, that trend continued. Their defense, normally their strength with this group, also struggled.
Since we last saw them, the Magic have made serious strides on both ends of the floor. Their offensive rating has jumped to 11th in the NBA, while their defense has improved to 15th.
So what’s driving this turnaround? It starts with their key players, particularly Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs. With Paolo Banchero sidelined by a groin injury, Wagner has taken on a larger role. Since Banchero went down, Wagner is averaging 24 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 4.5 assists on 46.4% shooting. Suggs, coming off offseason surgery, has also found his rhythm, putting up 19 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and two stocks per game over his last four outings. The Magic will be without Banchero for this game, which means you’ll likely see both Wagner and Suggs chipping in considerably.
The Sixers, meanwhile, have been trending in the opposite direction. Their offense, which started the season comfortably in the top five, has slipped to 12th in the league, while their defense has struggled, ranking 19th.
Maxey, who dominated this matchup earlier in the season, will look to keep up his scorching scoring pace. He’s averaging 33 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 7.8 assists on 47.1% shooting. Andre Drummond, who has stepped up in Embiid’s absence, will also play a key role, particularly against one of the league’s longest teams. Drummond has recorded double-doubles in six of his last seven games.
There are plenty of key injuries to watch heading into this game. For the Sixers, they will be without VJ Edgecombe (calf tightness), Adem Bona (ankle sprain), and Kelly Oubre Jr.. Tyrese Maxey (shoulder sprain) and Paul George (ankle sprain) are probable. Embiid may return after missing the last seven games with a knee injury, he is questionable with right knee injury management. The Magic will Mo Wagner on top of the absence of Banchero.
The Sixers are 0-2 in the NBA Cup, with a -10 point differential, placing them at the bottom of their group. The Magic, on the other hand, are 2-0 with a +20 point differential. A loss would eliminate the Sixers from contention, but a strong win would at least keep them in the running.
NBA Cup or not, the Sixers need a win to stay afloat in the playoff chase. Let’s see if they can move to 2–0 on the season against Orlando.
Game Details
When: Sunday, November 25, 8:00 p.m. ET
Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Watch: Peacock, NBC
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers
