Sixers vs Orlando Magic at a glance
76ers vs. Orlando Magic at a glance
TEAMS: Sixers (18-34) vs. Magic (20-34)
WHEN: 7 p.m. Thursday
WHERE: Amway Center
BROADCASTS: TV – CSN RADIO – 97.5 FM
SOCIAL MEDIA COVERAGE: TWITTER – @PompeyOnSixers, INSTAGRAM – PompeyOnSixers
411 ON MAGIC: The Magic have lost 16 of 21 games and have not won consecutive matchups since Dec. 23 and Dec. 26.
Things could get worse for Orlando with swingman Aaron Gordon listed as day-to-day with a sprained right root and bone bruise.
PROBABLE STARTERS
SIXERS (18-34)
33 Robert Covington SF 6-9 11.4 ppg. 1.8 spg.
7 Ersan Ilyasova PF 6-10 15.3 ppg. 6.0 rpg.
8 Jahlil Okafor C 6-11 11.8 ppg. 4.9 rpg.
11 Nik Stauskas SG 6-6 8.8 ppg. 2.2 apg.
1 T.J. McConnell PG 6-2 5.9 ppg. 6.0 apg.
Coach: Brett Brown (Fourth season, 65-233)
Injury report: Ben Simmons (right foot fracture, out), Jerryd Bayless, (left wrist ligament tear, out), Joel Embiid (left knee bone bruise, out).
MAGIC (20-34)
00 Aaron Gordon SF 6-9 11.2 ppg. 4.5 rpg.
7 Serge Ibaka PF 6-10 15.2 ppg. 6.9 rpg.
9 Nik Vucevic C 7-0 14.0 ppg. 9.9 rpg.
10 Evan Fournier SG 6-7 16.7 ppg. 3.1 apg.
4 Elfrid Payton PG 6-4 12.5 ppg. 5.9 apg.
Coach: Frank Vogel (Seventh season, 270-215)
Injury report: Aaron Gordon (sprained right foot, questionable); Jodie Meeks (right thumb repair, out); C.J. Wilcox (left Achilles tendinitis, out)
THE SERIES
The Magic own a 74-32 series advantage after winning this season's first two meetings.
LAS VEGAS LINE
Orlando is a 5-point favorite.
LAST SERIES MEETING
The Sixers showed promise while Embiid was on the floor on Dec. 2. Then they struggled when he wasn't. And that led to a 105-88 drubbing by the Magic at the Wells Fargo Center.
Orlando made a season-high 13 three-pointers. Eight came in the first 15 minutes of the second half.
Gordon paced the Magic with 20 points on 9-for-14 shooting despite sitting out the fourth quarter. Embiid finished with a game-high 25 points to go with 10 rebounds and four assists for his fifth double-double of the season.
Okafor, who backed up Embiid at center, added 16 points and 13 rebounds.
Embiid and Okafor were paired together on the court during stretches in the second and fourth quarters. They were effective during a 5-minute, 29-second spell in the second quarter.
The Sixers outscored the Magic, 12-9, during that time with the duo combining to score all of their points. Embiid made two three-pointers and an 11-foot jumper. Meanwhile, Okafor scored on a layup and a dunk.
The Sixers, who shot 37.9 percent, were a completely different team without Embiid on the floor.
UPCOMING GAMES
Saturday: 7:30 p.m., at Wells Fargo Center, Heat vs. Sixers
Monday: 7 p.m., at Spectrum Center, Sixers vs. Charlotte Hornets
Wednesday: 7:30 p.m., at TD Garden, Sixers vs. Boston Celtics
Feb. 24: 7 p.m., at Wells Fargo Center, Washington Wizards vs. Sixers
Feb. 25: 7:30 p.m., at Madison Square Garder, Sixers vs. New York Knicks
Follow and contact 76ers beat writer Keith Pompey on Twitter and on Instagram at PompeyOnSixers.