By Sean Kennedy (@PhillyFastBreak)
Orlando 130, Philadelphia 116 – Box Score
Following a brief reprieve in which the Sixers were competitive against the Wizards and “only” gave up 103 points, the floodgates opened up once again Sunday evening in Orlando. The Magic took advantage of a porous Sixers defense right from the get-go, surging to an 11-0 start, on their way to 40 first quarter points and 77 points in the opening half. In the end, the 130 point total was the Magic’s highest in a 48-minute game since 2009.
After dropping 35 points against Philadelphia earlier in the week, Nik Vucevic had a solid encore with 28 points in this meeting. Victor Oladipo matched Voose with 28 points of his own, while Aaron Gordon finished with a career-high 22 points, capped with his latest dunk contest entry.
#AirGordon finishes it! 🚨🚨🚨 https://t.co/vbgMSoVN4Q
— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) February 29, 2016
For the Sixers, it was more of the same from Jahlil Okafor, who was once again outstanding on the offensive end with 26 points on 12-18 shooting. It was certainly a better showing than that from Nerlens Noel, who last appeared in the game with 9 minutes left in the third quarter and finished with a team-worst 23 points. In the past week, we’ve clearly established that Vucevic has no chance of slowing down Okafor, which is unfortunate given that it’s the season series against the Magic is now complete.
6️⃣ second Jah-ighlight from Big Jah's 26-point game in Orlando. https://t.co/9JwbGyF5Y0
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) February 29, 2016
Led by the bench, the Sixers charged back into the game. They trailed by as many as 29 points in the third quarter, but charged to all the way to within 8 points in the fourth quarter. I tweeted out we need a term for the Sixers’ habit of being down a ton and almost coming all the way back, even though no one really expects them to be able to complete the comeback. In the moment, I came up with Process-ing, but I’m open for suggestions.
The most prominent bench players stepping up were Isaiah Canaan, who had 18 points in a performance that uncharacteristically even included a couples drives to the hoop, and Jerami Grant, who swatted 5 Magic shot attempts. Nobody provides as emphatic a soundtrack with his rejections as Jerami Grant.
"Give me that, please. Thank you." – @JeramiGrant, probably. https://t.co/8WFAgSDm1o
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) February 29, 2016
The Sixers have now lost 8 straight games, with no reprieve from the bloodletting in sight as they’ll be in DC Monday night. If nothing else, at least this post-trade deadline collapse is helping assure Philadelphia doesn’t pass anyone in the standings this year. Judging from their play the last few weeks, a transcendent player in this summer’s draft is more crucial than ever.
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