Magic come up short vs. visiting Sixers

Jason Beede, Orlando Sentinel on Jan 9, 2026

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ORLANDO, Fla. — When the Magic crushed the 76ers by 41 points in a Nov. 25 matchup at Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia was without former league MVP Joel Embiid, six-time All-NBA wing Paul George and No. 3 overall pick VJ Edgecombe.

But Friday night at Kia Center?

All three key starters were ready to go for the Sixers against an Orlando squad that continued to be without rising star Franz Wagner (left high ankle sprain) and All-Defensive guard Jalen Suggs (right knee MCL contusion).

In a contest that featured 11 lead changes, Philadelphia pulled away late en route to a 103-91 victory, outscoring the Magic 20-12 during the fourth quarter in front of a sold-out crowd.

The result could carry postseason implications come April with the Sixers securing the regular-season series 2-1 in the final meeting between the Eastern Conference sides.

The loss for Orlando also means the group still hasn’t won consecutive games since Nov. 28-Dec. 1, alternating wins and losses in its last 12 games.

Neither team shot the ball well from beyond the arc as Orlando (4 for 29 from 3) and Philadelphia (4 for 28) combined to shoot 8 for 57 (14%) from distance.

Philadelphia (21-15), however, racked up 20 points off 19 takeaways, 22 second-chance points and 19 fast-break points. Tyrese Maxey scored a game-high 29 points for the 76ers, while Embiid netted 22 and George 18.

The Magic (21-18) remain home when they host the Pelicans on Sunday afternoon.

Starting 5

About an hour prior to tip-off, the Magic ruled out forward Tristan da Silva due to back spasms.

Already without Wagner and Suggs, Magic coach Jamahl Mosley turned to rookie Noah Penda to start alongside Anthony Black, Paolo Banchero, Desmond Bane and Wendell Carter Jr. against the Sixers.

Black and Bane each posted 14 points before the break and did so in different ways. Black hit his first pair of triples while Bane missed his first three long-range attempts but still had success attacking the basket.

Black (21 points) dished four assists and turned the ball over four times. Bane added five assists and five rebounds to his 23 points.

Similarly, Banchero failed to take care of the ball as he committed four turnovers. The Magic forward missed all three of his long-range tries and ended with 14 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists in 30 minutes.

Second unit

An already thin Magic bench only got skinnier with da Silva out and Penda promoted to the starting lineup.

Veteran guard Tyus Jones (0 for 3) and third-year pro Jett Howard (0 for 6) shot a combined 0 for 9 from the floor.

Jonathan Isaac, who didn’t play in the first half, scored four points in the third frame.

Still, Philadelphia’s bench outscored Orlando’s 17-15.

Rookie watch

Making his first career start two days after turning 21, Penda was active early but wasn’t asked to do much on offense.

The French forward, who at times found himself defending Embiid and George, scored five points with seven rebounds in 30 minutes.

First-round pick Jase Richardson, who was upgraded from questionable to available after he missed Wednesday’s game at Brooklyn due to a sore left ankle, was the first player off Orlando’s bench.

The No. 25 pick briefly went to the locker room near the end of the first quarter but started the second frame. He pieced together an eight-point second half to end with nine by helping penetrate the paint, an area of the court where he shot 4 for 6.

Referee out

With 2:38 left in the first quarter, NBA official Bill Kennedy collapsed to the court on the baseline near Philadelphia’s bench.

Kennedy had to be wheel-chaired into the officials’ locker room.

The league later said Kennedy suffered a right leg injury. Referees James Williams and Michael Smith continued to officiate the game without a third official.