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2023-24 NBA Regular Season
Orlando Magic v Philadelphia 76ers
Kia Center
Orlando, Florida
Saturday 20 January 2024
Tip-off at 02:00
Orlando Magic will continue their fight for a place in the playoffs when they welcome
Philadelphia 76ers to the Kia Center on the morning of Saturday, January 20.
The Magic have struggled to replicate their early-season form and currently sit eighth in the Eastern Conference with a record of 20-18.
Seven of those 18 defeats came in December alone and Jamahl Mosley's team have lost another six games already in 2024, although they stopped the rot with a 98-94 victory over New York Knicks on January 15.
Trailing by 11 in the third quarter, the Magic rallied as Paolo Banchero hit five consecutive jumpers on his way to posting a joint-game-high 20 points to see off the Knicks.
Banchero was afforded a rest for the first half of the fourth quarter, but stepped off the bench to help guide Orlando to a first win in four outings.
"I think just wanting to come in the game and close it out," the star power forward said of his mindset. "I had been sitting over there for a while, and I was ready to come in the game.”
The Sixers haven't made the best of starts to the New Year after losing back-to-back home games against New York Knicks and Utah Jazz before going down to Atlanta Hawks on the road in overtime.
However, Nick Nurse's team bounced back with successive home wins against Sacramento Kings and Houston Rockets to stay ahead of Cleveland Cavaliers (4th) in the Eastern Conference.
Joel Embiid starred in the 124-115 victory over the Rockets on January 15 as he returned from his latest injury to register 40 points and 10 rebounds.
Image copyright: Getty Images
The reigning NBA MVP missed the previous three games with knee inflammation, while he also sat out the holiday road trip to Miami, Orlando, Houston and Chicago.
"We look at the long run and what's coming up next," Embiid said. "Hopefully it doesn't swell up again."
Orlando Magic v Philadelphia 76ers - Head-to-head, Regular Season
Games played: 130
Magic wins: 80
Sixers wins: 50
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