Sixers Stay Winless, Fall To Magic 105-97
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Elfrid Payton scored 20 points, and the balanced Orlando Magic beat the Philadelphia76ers 105-97 on Saturday night.
The Magic had seven players score in double figures in their third victory in four games following an 0-3 start. Evan Fournier had 17 points, Victor Oladipo finished with 15 on 6-for-18 shooting, and Dewayne Dedmon added 12 points, nine rebounds and three blocked shots.
Philadelphia's Nerlens Noel was ejected with 1:51 left in the third quarter after getting into a tussle with Orlando's Jason Smith, who was called for an offensive foul for elbowing Noel in the ribs. Noel finished with just two points — 12 below his season average.
Isiah Canaan scored 23 points for the winless Sixers, going 6 for 12 from 3-point range. Jahlil Okafor, who leads all rookies in scoring, finished with 19 points, Nik Stauskas added 18 and rookie point guard T.J. McConnell had nine assists and eight rebounds.
Trailing by 15 midway through the third quarter, Philadelphia (0-6) closed to 85-83 with on Canaan's sixth 3 of the night with 6:54 remaining. But Payton helped the Magic close it out with eight points over the final 3:38.
Mario Hezonja scored 11 points for Orlando, and fellow reserve Aaron Gordon had 10 points.
Philly jumped to a 13-4 lead, but Orlando responded with a 23-4 run, including final 11 points of the first quarter.
The Magic led 51-44 at halftime before surging to a 66-51 advantage on a Hezonja 3-pointer with 6:18 left in the third quarter.
Former Sixer Nikola Vucevic missed his second straight contest with a right knee bone bruise. Dedmon took the 7-footer's place in the lineup and went 8 for 8 at the line.
TIP-INS
Magic: Smith, who spent his first two NBA seasons with the Sixers, finished with 10 points. He was booed every time he touched the ball after his confrontation with Noel. ... Orlando has won eight of its last 10 againstPhiladelphia. ... The Magic went 21 for 24 from the free-throw line.
76ers: Sharpshooter Robert Covington missed his second straight game and fifth this season with a sprained knee. ... Starting forward Jerami Grant left in the fourth quarter with a left eye corneal abrasion. ... The Sixers missed 10 straight field goals from the 5:25 mark of the first quarter to the 11:14 mark of the second quarter.
UP NEXT
Magic: Visit Indiana on Monday.
76ers: Host Chicago on Monday.
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