The Sixers beat the Orlando Magic 118-98, a score which appeared closer in the box score than it did on the court. The Sixers’ starters didn’t step foot on the court in the 4th quarter, which the reserves entered with a 30 point lead. This win, the Sixers 5th in a row, guarantees them at least a .500 record for the first time since the 2011-2012 season.
Joel Embiid only played 20 minutes in tonight’s game but finished with 17 points and 9 rebounds. He was pulled with a few minutes left in the third quarter and spent the fourth quarter cheering on his teammates and lounging on the baseline.
Ben Simmons had a slow offensive note, scoring only six points but contributed 10 assists and 11 rebounds to the game. Four of Simmons’s points came on uncontested slam dunks, the Magic unwilling to play defense on a driving Simmons.
The Magic’s leading scorer tonight was Rodney Purvis, who scored 19 points off the bench in only his 5th NBA game. Aaron Gordon contributed only 10 points to the game.