Slow Start Dooms Sixers In 8th Straight Loss
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Rookie Mario Hezonja dunked four seconds into his first NBA start, finishing with 13 points, and the Orlando Magic led all the way Sunday in a 130-116 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.
Nik Vucevic and Victor Oladipo scored 28 points each and Aaron Gordon added a career-high 22 for the Magic.
Jahlil Okafor scored 26 points for the 76ers, who lost their eighth straight.
Starting in place of injured forward Evan Fournier, Hezonja's game-opening baskets got the Magic off to an 11-0 start and they shot 65 percent (30-for-46) in dominating the first half.
Oladipo, Vucevic and Gordon all reached double figures in a 40-point first quarter, Orlando's highest-scoring quarter of the season.
The Magic followed that with their most productive second quarter of the season (36 points) during which Gordon hit a couple of 3-pointers on a 21-4 run that left them with a 70-41 lead.
A big second half by Okafor helped the 76ers reduce Orlando's lead to eight when Vucevic fouled out with 3:46 left. But Elfrid Payton clinched the win for the Magic, scoring their next seven points and setting up Gordon for a dunk on his 10th assist of the game.
TIP-INS
76ers: G-F Hollis Thompson missed the game with flu-like symptoms. ... This is the seventh losing streak of eight or more games in the last three seasons. ... Opponents have averaged 118.9 points in the Sixers' last seven games.
Magic: Fournier, the only Magic player to play in each of the first 57 games, was out with a sore right wrist. ... With 26 games left, the Magic clinched their best season since 2011-12 with their 26th victory.
UP NEXT
76ers: Host Washington on Monday.
Magic: Visit Dallas on Tuesday.
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