Magic at 76ers
THE STORY: The Philadelphia 76ers still have a shot at the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference as they prepare to host the visiting Orlando Magic on Monday night. The matchup is coming 24 hours later than the 76ers would have liked. Magic center Dwight Howard will return to the lineup after sitting out Sunday’s loss to Chicago for a one-game suspension. Philadelphia trails the Knicks by one game with two to play. The Magic have already secured the No. 4 seed in the East, so they will be looking to fine-tune their game for the playoffs.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS-Florida, CS-Philadelphia
ABOUT THE MAGIC (50-30): Orlando hung tough against the Eastern Conference-leading Bulls despite the absence of Howard, even getting an apparent tying 3-pointer at the buzzer by Jameer Nelson that was waved off in the 102-99 defeat. Ryan Anderson, starting in place of Howard, had 28 points and 10 rebounds. Without their big man in the middle, Orlando turned to its perimeter game and buried 12-of-24 3-pointers against the Bulls. The Magic will be without Quentin Richardson, who will serve the second of a two-game suspension Monday night.
ABOUT THE 76ERS (41-39): Philadelphia’s chances of nabbing the No. 6 seed took a hit when the Knicks pulled out a last-second win in Indiana on Sunday night. Philadelphia snapped a three-game losing streak – one that included a loss to the Knicks – with a 98-93 win over the Toronto Raptors on Friday night. Elton Brand led the way with 22 points and Thaddeus Young added 20 for the 76ers, who are assured of no worse than the seventh seed and are seeking their first winning record since the 2004-05 season.
WHO’S HOT/WHO’S NOT: Magic guard Jason Richardson had scored only 31 points in his last four games, but after sitting out one game with a knee injury, he erupted for 24 points on 10-of-14 shooting Sunday. Young continues to provide a spark off the bench for Philadelphia. Friday’s game was his fifth 20-point game in his last seven.
KEY STATISTIC: The 76ers have held seven consecutive opponents to less than 100 points.
SEASON SERIES: The Magic have won two of the three meetings. Philadelphia won in Orlando 97-89 on Dec. 18, while the Magic squeaked out a 99-98 overtime victory at home on Jan. 19 before winning in Philly 99-95 on Feb. 9.
KEY INJURIES: ORLANDO: G Quentin Richardson (suspension); G J.J. Redick (abdominal). PHILADELPHIA: G Louis Williams (hamstring).
LAST WORD: “I don't want people coming here beating us. I want us to get that feeling that home is sacred for us (in the playoffs). We're obviously going to have to win at home and win a game on the road, as well. Our guys are all in tune with that.” – 76ers coach Doug Collins.