The Orlando Magic head into their NBA Cup East Group A matchup at home on Friday against the Philadelphia 76ers riding a four-game winning streak.
After losing five consecutive games, including the first four of eight games without All-Star forward Paolo Banchero due to a torn right oblique, the Magic have regrouped during a four-game homestand that concludes with Friday’s NBA Cup contest.
In all four wins of the streak, Orlando has held its opponents to 94 points or fewer, including the 89 points the Magic allowed in a 25-point victory over Charlotte to open NBA Cup play on Tuesday.
Orlando limited the Hornets to 34-of-84 shooting from the floor and forced 22 turnovers. They followed that up on Wednesday by holding Indiana to 32-of-84 shooting and causing 16 turnovers in a 94-90 win.
A consistent theme during this run has been Franz Wagner’s offensive production. He enters Friday’s contest averaging 27.8 points during the win streak after scoring 29 points on Wednesday.
Goga Bitadze has also played a significant role for Orlando. His 12-point, 12-rebound performance on Wednesday marked his third double-double since Nov. 6.
Bitadze’s assignment on Friday includes slowing down former MVP Joel Embiid, who returned to the 76ers’ lineup for the first time this season on Tuesday.
Philadelphia was without Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George for the second leg of a back-to-back on Wednesday. The Sixers dropped their seventh game in the last eight outings with a 114-106 home loss to the undefeated Cleveland Cavaliers.
Wednesday’s setback followed a 111-99 defeat in Philadelphia’s NBA Cup group-play opener against New York on Tuesday.
Embiid scored 13 points on just 2-of-11 shooting in his season debut. With Embiid and George resting and Maxey nursing a hamstring strain until at least the end of the week, rookie Jared McCain recorded career highs of 34 points and 10 assists against Cleveland.
Fellow Sixers rookie Adem Bona also earned praise for his nine-rebound effort off the bench against Cleveland.
