SIXERS NEWS

After their dominating win over the Knicks Wednesday, the Sixers traveled to Orlando to face the Magic. A win for the Sixers would have proved to the NBA that they are legitimate playoff contenders and maybe that they belong among the Eastern conference elite. Instead after a tough loss this game only proved that the Sixers aren't quite ready to make that step yet. Still, a playoff visit, providing them with invaluable experience is within reach for them. Offensively, four Sixers scored in double figures(Andre Iguodala, Andre Miller, Willie Green, Louis Williams) with Miller and Iggy's 25 each leading the way. Defensively, it was another quality team effort, but it was of little consequence in a game such as this between two teams with similar skill sets. In short, it came down not to who played well and who didn't, but rather to which team played their game better, and clearly at this point that mental victory will still go superman, Dwight Howard, and the Magic every time. Through the first period of play the Magic jumped out to a ten point lead with the score 26-16. In the second quarter of play, Orlando stayed firm and increased their lead to thirteen, with the score 53-40 at the half. In the 3rd quarter of play the Sixers sunk their teeth in and got back into it cutting the lead to 10, with score 76-66 heading into the 4th. Finally, in the 4th quarter of play, the Sixers stayed with Orlando most of time, but try as they might they couldn't pull back even with them, and eventually the Magic held on to win, 115-99, a final score cleary misleading the reader to believe the game was not closer than it would indicate. So the Sixers drop to 24-32 overall, but remain 4th in the Atlantic division, still .5 games behind the Nets and still 8th in the Eastern conference.