Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Sixers visit the Magic Kingdom

The Orlando Magic will try to extend their home winning streak to seven games when they entertain the Philadelphia 76ers tonight from Amway Center.

Orlando has won six in a row in the Magic Kingdom and is 15-5 as the host this season. It will also welcome Toronto to town on the quick residency.

The Magic went 2-3 on a five-game road trip and suffered a 109-106 loss in Boston on Monday, as Dwight Howard registered his 30th double-double of the season with 33 points and 13 rebounds. Ryan Anderson added 16 points and eight rebounds, while Jason Richardson ended with 14 points in defeat.

"We didn't get any stops," said Orlando head coach Stan Van Gundy. "They shot 60 percent in the first half, and 60 percent in the second half. There was never a point in the game where we stopped them."

Van Gundy's squad has dropped three of four games since a franchise-tying nine-game winning streak.

Philadelphia will try and put the brakes on a three-game road losing streak tonight in the opener of a quick trek through Orlando and Charlotte.

The 76ers are just 5-16 away from the City of Brotherly Love this season, but recorded a pair of wins to close out a three-game homestand. In Monday's 96-92 overtime triumph versus Charlotte, Lou Williams finished with 23 points and buried a three-pointer to send the game into extra minutes.

Elton Brand notched 13 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks, Andre Iguodala added 16 points, 10 boards and six assists and both Jrue Holiday and Marreese Speights scored 10 points for the Sixers, who have won four of six games overall.

"Lou Williams was great in the second half," Sixers coach Doug Collins said. "Second [close] game in a row that we have won that we had not won all season long. It is huge growth for our team."

Philadelphia was able to beat the Magic, 97-89, on Dec. 18 this season at Amway Center, but Orlando is 12-2 in the past 14 matchups in this series. The Sixers snapped a six-game road losing streak with that win last month. They are only 3-10 in the past 13 contests at the Magic.

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