Final
Depleted Magic take down Sixers
Apr 17, 2012 - 3:55 AM Orlando, FL (Sports Network) - The Orlando Magic used six double-digit scorers in the absence of Dwight Howard and Glen Davis to down the Philadelphia 76ers, 113-100 at Amway Center.Despite the absence of their injured starting and backup centers, the Magic shot 53 percent against the league's best scoring defense and grabbed 16 more rebounds, with Ryan Anderson's 26 points and 16 boards leading the way.
"We said going into the game that rebounding the ball was going to be key, and we didn't do it," 76ers head coach Doug Collins said.
Jameer Nelson totaled 16 points and 13 assists, while Earl Clark, seeing more minutes in Orlando's depleted frontcourt, tied a career-high with 14 points and grabbed a personal-best 11 rebounds.
"Now that a couple of guys are down, I've been given a chance. I just want to make the most of it," Clark said.
Orlando clinched a postseason berth over the weekend, something the Sixers appeared to have locked up as recently as a month ago before their recent slide.
Philadelphia, which has gone 2-6 in April, sits in a tie for seventh in the Eastern Conference playoff race with the Knicks -- two games up on the ninth- place Bucks with six to play.
Jrue Holiday paced the Sixers with 18 points and eight assists, while Lou Williams, Andre Iguodala and Thaddeus Young all netted 15 points in defeat.
The Sixers, playing the first of three games in as many nights, led by nine late in the first quarter and were on top, 27-21, before allowing the Magic to shoot 16-of-23 (70 percent) from the floor in the second.
Jason Richardson scored 12 of his 17 points in the quarter, and the Magic, behind their 40-point frame, went into the locker room holding a 61-55 advantage.
Orlando continued its torrid stretch with a 13-4 run to start the third and held a 90-79 cushion heading to the fourth.
The closest the visitors got in the final stanza was seven, the last time pulling within 106-99 with under two minutes left before consecutive buckets by Nelson put the game away.
Game Notes
Daniel Orton made his first career start at center for the Magic and totaled six points and six rebounds in 23-plus minutes...J.J. Redick and Quentin Richardson rounded out Orlando's high scorers with 18 and 13 points, respectively...Orlando improved to 22-6 when having five or more players score in double figures...The Sixers fell to 14-3 when scoring 100-plus points this season.
- PHILADELPHIA: 100
ORLANDO: 113
Final
Apr 16 9:05 PM - PHILADELPHIA: 79
ORLANDO: 90
End of 3rd
Apr 16 8:38 PM - PHILADELPHIA: 55
ORLANDO: 61
Halftime
Apr 16 8:00 PM - PHILADELPHIA: 27
ORLANDO: 21
End of 1st
Apr 16 7:31 PM - PHILADELPHIA: 0
ORLANDO: 0
1st Quarter - 11:59
Apr 16 7:11 PM
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