By The Associated Press’s Dick Scanlon
ORLANDO, FL. The Orlando Magic defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 104-99 on Sunday night, with Cole Anthony scoring 27 points and Paolo Banchero scoring seven points in the last 1:32.
After missing his second game due to a torn oblique, Banchero ended with 20 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists.
With 29 points, Tyrese Maxey led Philadelphia. With 2:49 remaining and the 76ers leading 94-91, Paul George had 25 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists before fouling out.
Jonathan Isaac, a reserve who recorded his first double-double since 2019 with 20 points and 11 rebounds, also helped Orlando. Anthony Black had six rebounds, six assists, and 17 points in the end.
Takeaways
76ers: The defeat concluded a long weekend for the 76ers, who were once again without center Joel Embiid following their loss to New Orleans at home on Friday and the season-ending surgery on rookie Jared McCain due to a ruptured meniscus on Thursday. Due to a sore left foot, Embiid missed his fourth consecutive game.
Magic: The Magic finished 23-18 and fifth in the Eastern Conference at the halfway stage of an injury-plagued season. Tristan da Silva, a rookie forward, was sick and exited the game after 61 seconds.
On Sunday, January 12, 2025, in Orlando, Florida, Orlando Magic guard Trevelin Queen responds to a dunking against the Philadelphia 76ers during the second half of an NBA basketball game. (Photo courtesy of Phelan M. Ebenhack)AP
Key moment
The only points Philadelphia scored in the last 2:32, when a three-point advantage turned into a five-point deficit, were from a 3-pointer made by Maxey.
Key stat
Orlando held a 48-11 advantage in bench points under the leadership of Isaac and Black.
Up next
On Tuesday, the 76ers will host Oklahoma City. On Wednesday, the Magic will visit Milwaukee.
https://apnews.com/hub/nba is the AP NBA.
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