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Sixers-Magic preview: Looking to avoid a letdown

Orlando has lost four straight and eight of its last 12 games.

Joel Embiid, left, of the Sixers grabs Ben Simmons from behind as he celebrates a pass Simmons made to Dario Saric against the Pistons at the Wells Fargo Center on Dec. 2, 2017.
Joel Embiid, left, of the Sixers grabs Ben Simmons from behind as he celebrates a pass Simmons made to Dario Saric against the Pistons at the Wells Fargo Center on Dec. 2, 2017.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
    by Keith Pompey | Columnist
    Published 

Orlando Magic (18-40) at 76ers (31-25)

Saturday at 5 p.m., at Wells Fargo Center

Talking points

On paper, this should be nothing more than a tune-up for the Sixers upcoming three-game road trip against the Washington Wizards (Sunday), Miami Heat (Tuesday) and Cleveland Cavaliers (Thursday). Orlando has lost four straight and eight of their last 12 games. The Sixers will look to extend their winning streak to seven games.

How to watch and follow the game

  1. TV and streaming: NBC Philadelphia

  2. Radio: 97.5 FM

  3. Twitter: @PompeyOnSixers; @NBASarah

Starting lineups

Magic (18-40)

17 Jonathon Simmons SF 6-6 13.8 ppg 3.5 rpg.

00 Aaron Gordon PF 6-9 18.2 ppg. 8.3 rpg.

9 Nik Vucevic C 7-0 17.4 ppg. 9.2 rpg.

10 Evan Fournier SG 6-7 18.0 ppg. 3.1 rpg.

14 D.J. Augustin PG 6-0 9.0 ppg. 3.3 apg.

Coach: Frank Vogel (eighth season, 297-274)

Injury report:  Mo Speights (personal reasons, out), Terrence Ross (Sprained right MCL, out).

Sixers (30-25)

33 Robert Covington SF 6-9  12.7 ppg. 5.6 rpg

9 Dario Saric PF 6-10  14.6 ppg. 6.9 rpg.

21 Joel Embiid C 7-2 23.8 ppg. 11.2 rpg.

17 J.J. Redick SG 6-4  16.9 ppg. 3.2 apg.

25 Ben Simmons PG 6-10 16.7 ppg. 7.4 apg.

Coach: Brett Brown (fifth season, 106-278)

Injury report: Markelle Fultz (shooting rehabilitation, out); Justin Anderson (sprained right ankle, out); Demetrius Jackson (left adductor strain, out); Furkan Korkmaz (Lisfranc injury, left foot, out).

Head to head

Orlando holds a 75-34 series advantage. The Magic has won 27 of the last 35 regular-season meetings.

Coming games

Sunday: 8 p.m., at Capital One Arena, Sixers vs. Washington Wizards

Tuesday: 7:30 p.m., at American Airlines Arena, Sixers vs. Miami Heat

Thursday: 8 p.m., at Quicken Loans Arena, Sixers vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

Friday: 7 p.m., at Wells Fargo Center, Charlotte Hornets vs. Sixers

March 4: 8 p.m., at BMO Harris Bradley Center, Sixers vs. Milwaukee Bucks.