It’s Raining Three’s! Sixers clinch dramatic 116-115 win over Orlando Magic

JJ Redick and the Philadelphia 76ers secured a dramatic 116-115 win over the Orlando Magic on Saturday evening.

The win was decided only in the final seconds of the game as the Magic failed to make a vital three-pointer for the win despite diminishing the lead to only one point.

Redick, who ended the evening with eight 3-pointers off the bench, led the momentum shift Philadelphia experienced late in the first quarter.

The Sixers off to a rough start, were shooting at 1-of-7 (14.3%) as the Magic went on an early 9-0 run at 9-of-12 (75%). It was Redick’s hot hand that dropped three 3-pointers within two minutes of game time.

The second quarter, which would prove to be huge for Philadelphia despite Ben Simmons exiting due to back tightness, opened in a similar fashion. Redick secured his fourth deep ball and the lead began to grow.

Additional role players like Robert Covington and Amir Johnson really stepped up to fill in for Simmons. Covington contributed three 3-pointers at 4-of-7 shooting and Johnson contributed greatly with six rebounds and three assists.

Joel Embiid, who had previously been looking rather stagnant, became a dominant force, ending the quarter by scoring 17 of his 21 career-high first-half points. He ended the night with 32 points, 10 rebounds and three assists. Since 2006, this was the first time the Sixers had been led offensively by 30+ points for two games in a row.

Although his stats wouldn’t necessarily jump out at you, Dario Saric proved to be a vital component of the team’s efforts. He wasn’t afraid to pull up right in front of a good defender and go for the shot, coming in clutch with the first points of the evening as well as aiding Redick with a trey in the second.

The Magic were offensively led by Evan Fournier who contributed 31 points, four rebounds and three assists. Not far behind, was former Sixer Nikola Vucevic who proved to be a menace on the court. He notched 27 points at 10-of-15 from the field and 4-of-4 from the three. Aaron Gordon led a dominant defense that contributed largely to the Magic’s 9-0 run in the first quarter and many second chances later on in the evening.

Looking ahead: The Sixers will hit the road for a Tuesday, Wednesday stint against the Detroit Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks respectively.