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NBA: Sixers' balanced attack too strong for Magic


Tyrese Maxey scored 23 points to lead six players in double figures as the Philadelphia 76ers defeated the host Orlando Magic 112-92 on Wednesday.

Tobias Harris and De'Anthony Melton added 22 apiece, and Paul Reed had 15 points and 10 rebounds. Marcus Morris Sr. had 14 points and Patrick Beverley 10 for the Sixers.

Philadelphia won for the first time in five tries without reigning Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid, who was out with a sprained right ankle.

Franz Wagner led the Magic with 24 points while Jalen Suggs added 20 points, and Paolo Banchero had 19 points and team-highs with nine rebounds and four assists.

Orlando had its two-game winning streak snapped.

Banchero and Caleb Houstan hit back-to-back 3-pointers and the Magic closed within 86-83 with 9:36 left in the fourth quarter.

The Sixers responded with consecutive treys by Harris and Melton to go back ahead by nine.

Harris delivered a difficult layup with 3:52 left for a 98-87 advantage.

Maxey hit a 3-pointer with 2:37 remaining for a 103-89 lead. Two more Melton treys extended the lead to 20, 109-89.

Banchero hit a short baseline runner with 3:54 left in the second quarter to tie the game at 42.

On the Sixers' next possession, Maxey missed an initial shot and then tapped it in with his left hand for a 44-42 advantage.

Harris drove to the basket and dunked with 1:01 left for a 50-46 lead.

The Sixers held an 52-46 advantage at halftime thanks in large part to 14 points from Maxey on 6-of-8 shooting.

Suggs hit all six of his first-half shots and finished with 13 points.

Philadelphia quickly surged to a 61-50 lead with 9:29 left in the third following a layup by Harris.

Wagner dropped in a 3-pointer with 6:36 remaining and the Magic closed within 66-62.

An 8-0 run soon propelled the Sixers to a 75-64 lead.

Maxey hit a deep trey and Robert Covington made a tough layup in the final minute and the Sixers went on to take an 84-75 lead at the end of the third. — Field Level Media/Reuters