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Magic hope to start matching road success at home

Feb 22, 2008 - 1:23 PM Philadelphia (24-31) at Orlando (34-22) 7:00 pm EST

ORLANDO, Florida (Ticker) - Owners of an NBA-best 20 road wins, the Orlando Magic face the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday in the first of two straight home games.

The Magic have a comfortable lead in the Southeast Division, but would be even farther ahead if not for a mediocre 14-11 home mark. Friday's home game will be the first for Orlando after the All-Star break.

The Magic followed up Tuesday's 103-85 win at Detroit - that snapped the Pistons' 10-game win streak - with a 127-110 loss at Toronto on Wednesday.

"I didn't like our level of competitiveness," Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy said after the loss to the Raptors. "I thought we were hanging our heads and stuff."

The Sixers, who won their last five games before the layoff, are also 1-1 since the break.

Philadelphia rebounded from a 104-88 loss at Minnesota on Tuesday with a 124-84 home rout of the New York Knicks on Wednesday. The Sixers' highest scoring effort of the season came hours after coach Maurice Cheeks was given a one-year contract extension.

Friday's game is the second of four between the teams. Orlando won at Philadelphia, 108-106, on February 1. Hedo Turkoglu made two free throws with 2.4 seconds left for the win.