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Surging Sixers entertain Magic

Feb 9, 2011 - 4:17 PM (Sports Network) - The Orlando Magic seem to enjoy playing in the City of Brotherly Love and will take their talents to south Philly tonight for a showdown with the much-improved 76ers at Wells Fargo Center.

Orlando has won four straight trips to Philadelphia and is 9-3 in its last 12 contests at the Sixers. The two teams have split a pair of matchups this season -- both at Amway Center -- while the Magic have won 13 of the previous 15 contests in this series.

The Magic won for just the second time their last five games overall with Tuesday's 101-85 victory over Blake Griffin and the Los Angeles Clippers. Dwight Howard had 22 points and 20 rebounds for his 11th straight double- double and Jameer Nelson added 17 points for Orlando, which has won nine in a row against the Clippers. Griffin was held to 10 points and 12 boards.

"It would be great to blow a team out every night, but tonight we didn't shoot the ball very well," said Magic forward Ryan Anderson, who had 13 points. "We had to get ourselves back into a groove."

After the Magic, who are 14-13 as the guest, visit the 76ers, they will return home for a seven-game residency versus the Hornets, Lakers, Wizards, Kings, Thunder, Bobcats and Knicks.

Philadelphia enters tonight's contest on a roll, having won seven of nine, including a 117-83 blowout of the Hawks last night in Atlanta. The Sixers led by a 33-15 score after the first quarter and carried a 65-33 advantage into the locker room.

Bench star Lou Williams led six Sixers in double figures with a game-best 20 points and both Jodie Meeks and Thaddeus Young netted 16 points, as the 76ers shot 54 percent from the floor and finished with a 50-35 edge on the glass.

"We came out and had a real sense of purpose," Sixers coach Doug Collins said. "Our defense was great and we got in the open court. "Our whole thing was, if we get some stops, we thought our speed would really hurt them and it did."

Elton Brand pumped in 17 points, Jrue Holiday added 15 and Andre Iguodala filled the boxscore 11 points, eight assists and seven rebounds for Philadelphia, which will also host San Antonio on the brief homestand and is 16-8 at Well Fargo Center.

The Sixers are averaging 105.3 points in the last eight games and are currently seventh in the Eastern Conference standings. Collins has made a definite impression in his first season with the young team, which has been to the postseason only twice in the last five years.