The Philadelphia 76ers are currently 2-9, sitting next-to-last in the Eastern Conference standings. Normally, there would be a line forming at the Ben Franklin Bridge at this state of affairs, but we’ve been distracted by the ascension of rookie Jared McCain. The former Duke Blue Devil is now the odds-on favorite to win Rookie of the Year, averaging 25.5 points across his last four games. In his first career start on Wednesday against Cleveland, McCain dropped rookie-career-highs of 34 points and 10 assists, nearly carrying the Sixers to the upset win.
Tonight, as the Sixers hit the road to face the Orlando Magic, McCain will get some reinforcements. Both Joel Embiid and Paul George will be back in the lineup after sitting out the back-to-back on Wednesday. The injury report is pretty clean by Philadelphia standards, with just Tyrese Maxey out due to his strained right hamstring and Andre Drummond questionable due to illness.
Meanwhile, the Magic have a couple injuries with All-Star Paolo Banchero out with a torn oblique and big man Wendell Carter Jr. sitting due to plantar fasciitis. Rookie Tristan da Silva has moved into the starting lineup in the wake of Banchero’s injury, with Goga Bitadze and Mo Wagner sharing center duties with Carter sidelined. However, the man who has stepped up big has been Mo’s brother, Franz Wagner. The German from the University of Michigan is averaging 27.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 1.8 steals over Orlando’s recent 4-0 stretch. The Magic are now 7-6 on the season, good enough for third place in what passes for the Eastern Conference these days.
Of course, tonight’s meeting is also an NBA Cup game. After Philadelphia’s loss to the Knicks on Tuesday, the Sixers need to win tonight or I hope you made cancellable reservations for Las Vegas. Here’s the Magic’s NBA Cup court that we’ll see tonight — gray definitely looks less startling than some primary color being used:
Nick Nurse said the other day that George’s minutes restriction has been lifted, so we should probably expect four or five minutes more than his 29.2 average across his first five games. I’d expect the team to still be a bit judicious with Embiid in what will only be his second game of the season. His conditioning was understandably not where it needed to be yet against the Knicks. Perhaps most excitingly, how will this ‘feeling himself’ version of McCain play alongside the two veteran All-Stars? Will Nick Nurse keep him in the starting lineup for the second straight game? In this dismal start to the season, McCain has been the brightest of silver linings. Maybe with more hands on deck tonight, the Sixers can go for more than a moral victory.
Game Details
Who: Philadelphia 76ers vs. Orlando Magic
When: 7:00 pm ET
Where: Kia Center, Orlando, FL
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers
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