76ers at Magic
THE STORY: The Orlando Magic were scraping rock bottom the last time they matched up with the Philadelphia 76ers. Things have changed considerably since then for Orlando, which will host Atlantic Division-Philadelphia on Wednesday night. The 76ers handed the Magic their fourth consecutive loss on Jan. 31, limiting them to only 69 points, but Orlando has won six of its last eight and is seeking its third consecutive victory. The Sixers have won two straight and looks to close out a perfect three-game road trip.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, CSP, SunSports
ABOUT THE 76ERS (20-9): Philadelphia has overcome the loss of starting C Spencer Hawes, who is expected to miss his fifth straight game and 15th in the last 17 games with a strained Achilles. Six players are averaging in double figures and eight are averaging at least nine points for the Sixers. The strength-in-numbers approach was again evident in Monday’s win at Charlotte, as reserves Lou Williams and Thaddeus Young combined to score 43 points. Williams tops the team at 15.9 points per game.
ABOUT THE MAGIC (18-11): Orlando seems to have righted its offense, eclipsing 100 points in five of the last eight games. The Magic had a stretch last month in which they failed to surpass 85 points in five of six games. Jason Richardson, who missed the earlier meeting due to injury, has provided an offensive spark by averaging 18.1 points in the last seven games. Star center Dwight Howard has been held to 11 points in back-to-back games.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Philadelphia’s win over Orlando last month was only its third in the last 18 meetings between the teams.
2. The Magic lead the league with an average of 25.8 attempted 3-point shots per game.