Sixers fall short against Vucevic and Magic

ORLANDO - Isaiah Canaan displayed the long-range shooting touch the 76ers coveted.

But unfortunately for the Sixers, Nik Vucevic was, once again, a thorn in his former team's side.

The 7-foot center had game highs of 31 points, 14 rebounds and a game-sealing block Sunday night in the Orlando Magic's 103-98 victory at the Amway Center.

His 34th double-double of the season helped the Magic (19-39) extend their winning streak to a season-best three games. The Sixers (12-43) have lost three straight.

It was business as usual for Vucevic against the team that traded him to Orlando on Aug. 10, 2012. The fourth-year player had averaged 16.4 points and 14.8 rebounds against the Sixers before Sunday.

"Huge, huge [game]," Sixers coach Brett Brown said of Vucevic. "You know, he's a big man, he's a versatile man. He's got a great touch."

The Magic kept finding him as he rolled to the basket.

"He's just a big man that is hard for Nerlens [Noel] to guard," Brown said, "and they did a good job of finding him, especially on pick-and-rolls."

Canaan finished with 14 points, four rebounds, three assists and three turnovers while battling through a cramp in his side in his Sixers debut. He displayed his shooting range, making 4 of 9 three-pointers.

The Sixers acquired Canaan and a second-round pick from the Houston Rockets on Thursday in exchange for K.J. McDaniels. This was Canaan's first start since Nov. 28. He had played in only two games since Jan. 10 before Sunday night.

But the Biloxi, Miss., native was far from beating his chest afterward.

"I criticize myself the hardest," he said. "Of course, I think I could have done better. But this is my first game . . . in a while. I try not to make any excuses. I'm out there on the court, I try to be perfect. And I tried to do whatever I could to lead this team."

With the point guard's help, the Sixers kept battling back.

Canaan buried his fourth three-pointer after a timeout to close the gap to 101-98 with 31 seconds to play. But Victor Oladipo responded with a pair of foul shots. Then Vucevic blocked Canaan's three-point attempt with 4.9 ticks left to clinch the win.

This was Sixers shooting guard Jason Richardson's first time playing at the Amway Center since he was part of the trade that sent Vucevic to Orlando. The former Magic player had seven points and five rebounds. He made his second consecutive start after being sidelined since Jan. 18, 2013, following two left kneecap surgeries and a stress fracture in his right foot.

Richardson will be sidelined Monday night against the host Miami Heat because the team does not want him to play on back-to-back nights.

Henry Sims (eight points) started in place of Luc Mbah a Moute at power forward. Mbah a Moute didn't fly to Orlando with the team Saturday afternoon because of personal reasons. He rejoined the team after the game started and did not play.

Jerami Grant had a scare in the second quarter while being hacked by former Sixer Dewayne Dedmon on a layup. The forward's left knee was twisted as he fell hard to the court and he lay facedown for a moment.

Grant got up and split a pair of foul shots. He did not return after intermission because of a lower back bruise.

The Sixers acquired Ish Smith off waivers. To make room, they waived reserve power forward Malcolm Thomas. He was notified of his release on the court before the start of the game.

The Sixers are Smith's third team in four days. The New Orleans Pelicans acquired him in a trade with Oklahoma City on Thursday and immediately released him. The 6-foot, 175-pounder has also had stops with Houston, Memphis, Golden State, the Magic, Milwaukee, and Phoenix.

Thomas averaged 2.6 points, 3.3 rebounds in 17 appearances with the Sixers this season.

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