Magic-76ers Preview

By MATT BECKER
Posted Apr 06 2012 6:27PM

The Philadelphia 76ers have fallen out of first place in the Atlantic Division and are sliding down the Eastern Conference standings.

Their problems, however, pale in comparison to the drama surrounding the Orlando Magic.

With the ongoing rift between coach Stan Van Gundy and All-Star center Dwight Howard intensifying, the scuffling Magic try to avoid losing six straight games for the first time in six years Saturday night when they visit the 76ers.

Following Orlando's Thursday morning shootaround ahead of that night's matchup with New York, Van Gundy said he has been told by high-ranking team officials that Howard has previously asked that he be fired. Reports of Howard's request surfaced near the trade deadline, but this was the first time Van Gundy confirmed the rumors.

Howard has continuously denied that he's asked for Van Gundy's dismissal, and again brushed aside any mention of such a demand despite his coach's statement. On the court against the Knicks, the six-time All-Star looked as if he didn't have much desire to play for Van Gundy, although some of it could have stemmed from a recent injury.

After missing two games with back spasms, Howard had eight points and eight rebounds in 40 minutes of a 96-80 loss. It was his lowest-scoring output since also finishing with eight in a win over New York on Jan. 16.

Howard's subpar performance led to a fifth straight loss for the Magic (32-23). The team hasn't dropped six in a row since Feb. 26-March 6, 2006.

With all the off-court distractions surrounding Orlando, point guard Jameer Nelson said the team simply needs to focus on ignoring all issues that don't pertain to basketball.

"We've been handling adversity all season," said Nelson, who had 10 points Thursday after sitting out Tuesday's loss to Detroit with a sore left calf. "This is just another chapter of it. This is about us players and management sticking together."

Orlando's losing streak has caused the team to fall from third place in the East to sixth.

The 76ers (29-25) have experienced a similar slide in the last two weeks, dropping from fourth - and atop the Atlantic - to seventh.

Philadelphia, a game back of division-leading Boston, has lost eight of 12 and a sputtering offense can be blamed for much of its issues. The Sixers have been held to 80 points or fewer in six of those losses and are coming off a humiliating showing.

After leading lowly Toronto at the break Wednesday, the Sixers managed 22 second-half points in a 99-78 home loss. Louis Williams, who averages a team-best 15.3 points, scored nine for Philadelphia, which missed 13 straight shots at one point and finished with seven fourth-quarter points - a team-record low for a final period dating to the 1954-55 season.

"We got to continue to trust in each other," Andre Iguodala said.

Iguodala, who averages 12.1 points, scored six against the Raptors after leaving Tuesday's 99-93 loss to Miami with a left eye bruise.

The Magic are hoping to have Ryan Anderson back after he sat out two games with a sprained right ankle. Anderson, second on the Magic in scoring at 16.1 per game and the league leader with 150 3-pointers, carried Orlando in its last game against the Sixers, scoring 27 points on 7-of-10 shooting beyond the arc in a 103-87 victory Feb. 15.

He had 14 points and a career-best 20 rebounds, while Howard had 17 points and 11 boards, in a 74-69 loss in Philadelphia on Jan. 30, the Magic's lone defeat in the last five meetings.

Magic snap 5-game skid in 88-82 win over 76ers

By DAN GELSTON
Posted Apr 08 2012 12:11AM

PHILADELPHIA (AP) Dwight Howard's reputation took a beating this week and so did his team.

It was time for his rebuttal.

Howard had 20 points and 22 rebounds, and Glen Davis had 23 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Orlando Magic to an 88-82 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday night.

After his ninth 20-20 performance of the season, Howard then defended his character by stating, "I'm not a bad guy."

J.J. Redick scored 11 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter to help the Magic snap a five-game losing streak. The Magic pushed aside the lingering rift between Howard and coach Stan Van Gundy to win for the first time since March 26.

The win was a needed break for a team that wants to turn the spotlight back on basketball.

Howard bills himself as Orlando's Superman, but he was more a super distraction this week.

The Magic stamped their claim as Team Turmoil once Van Gundy disclosed this week that Howard wanted him fired. The two have since agreed it was time to move forward and focus on the team's play on the court.

Van Gundy started a circus on Thursday morning when he revealed he was told by high-ranking team officials of Howard's request. Howard walked up and hugged Van Gundy during that media scrum, unaware what Van Gundy had just said. After the coach walked away, Howard was blindsided that reporters knew the truth about his firing request.

After a strong 44 minutes against the Sixers, Howard said he just wanted to have fun and lead the Magic.

"I'm not a bad guy," Howard said. "Regardless of whatever's being said or how people want to portray me, I'm still going to be who I am. I'm the same person. I've never been a bad guy my whole life. But it happens. Everybody goes through trials and tribulations or whatever. This is what makes you. I'm not going to let it break me."

Asked before Saturday's game what he's learned from this season, Van Gundy said, "too much to talk about."

Led by Howard, the Magic outrebounded the Sixers 53-41. Howard had 13 defensive boards.

"This is the best I've felt about this team the entire year," Van Gundy said.

Thaddeus Young scored 20 points, Jodie Meeks had 16 and Lou Williams 15 for Philadelphia. The Sixers have lost nine of their last 13 games and are in serious danger of missing a playoff spot after leading the Atlantic Division for most of the season.

Young, Meeks and Williams all come off the bench. None of the Sixers starters reached double-digits and coach Doug Collins said that unit has one more chance to get its act together before he starts making changes.

"We can't keep digging ourselves a hold like that, just can't do it," Collins said.

The Magic took control of the game late in the fourth quarter to put away a Sixers team collapsing down the stretch. Elton Brand's soft jumper let Philadelphia take a 73-72 lead and give it hope they could complete the comeback after trailing by 10 points.

Redick and the Magic took it from there. His 3-pointer with 3:21 left put Orlando ahead 82-76 and fans started heading for the exits.

Howard, who sat out a recent stretch with back spasms, went 7 of 12 from the free-throw line in the fourth to seal the win.

"Like I've said before, regardless of how many points I've got, I would never quit on my team, I would never quit on my coach, I never quit on anything," Howard said. "I'm not a quitter. That's just in me to play hard and fight every night."

Davis was sensational during a recent stint in the starting lineup subbing for an injured Howard (sore back). He averaged 17 points over a four-start span that included 31 points against Detroit.

Davis was back among the starting five with Ryan Anderson (ankle) out against the Sixers. Van Gundy said scoring chances weren't going to come easy for Davis with Howard back in the lineup. Davis wouldn't have plays called for him and he'd have to embrace the approach of fighting for baskets.

He embraced it with fervor in the third quarter.

Davis scored 15 points on 6 of 10 shooting, abusing a Sixers frontcourt that doesn't have the size to ward off Davis and Howard.

Philadelphia's bench bailed out a starting five suffering from a serious off night in the first half. Brand and Jrue Holiday were scoreless, and Andre Iguodala and Evan Turner had four points apiece.

No problem. Williams and Meeks both went 4 for 5 from the floor for 11 points and Thaddeus Young scored eight points to help the Sixers lead 45-37 at the break.

Milwaukee's 116-94 win over Portland moved the Bucks within 1 1/2 games of the Sixers for seventh in the East. The Bucks are a 1-2 game behind New York for the eighth and final spot.

"If we keep playing defense like we did tonight, we'll be fine," Meeks said.

NOTES: 76ers coach Doug Collins said dissension in the NBA is nothing new. "It's been a season of drama throughout the league," he said. "And drama wears you down, it really does. It's tough." ... Filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan was at the game.

Notebook: Magic 88, Sixers 82

Posted Saturday April 7, 2012 11:42PM

By Mike Radano, for NBA.com

THE FACTS: Dwight Howard scored 20 points and pulled down a game-high 22 rebounds and Glen Davis scored a game-high 23 points as the Orlando Magic ended a five-game losing streak with the win. The Philadelphia 76ers loss was their third straight and left them clinging to just a 1 1/2 game lead over Milwaukee for the eighth and final playoff spot. Orlando (33-23) held an early 10-point lead but found itself down ten in the third before it rallied for the win.

Thaddeus Young led the 76ers with 20 points as they fell to 29-26.

QUOTABLE: "I think Glen has played four excellent games in a row. He's been able to shut out all of the distractions. He's not trying to do anything but play the game the best way he can and that's it."
-- Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy.

THE STAT: J.J. Redick scored 11 of his 19 in the fourth quarter as the Magic rallied for the win.

TURNING POINT: After the 76ers took a 73-72 lead with 6:26 left in the game, Howard made 1-of-2 from the line and Redick hit a pair of 18-foot jumpers in a 5-0 run that gave the Magic the lead for good at 77-73.

HOT: Redick went 4-for-6 from the field in the fourth quarter.

NOT: Andre Iguodala went 2-for-9 from the field. He was far from alone in his struggles as not one starter scored more than seven points for the 76ers.

QUOTABLE II: "It's disappointing to me for us to waste that type of defensive effort. We had 82 points but it's league-wide I guess."
-- 76ers head coach Doug Collins.

FANTASY SPOTLIGHT: Howard's 22 rebounds were a big part of a 53-41 advantage the Magic held on the glass over the 76ers. Howard added a pair of blocks and six assists.

INSIDE THE ARENA: The Wells Fargo Center was ready for a national television audience as the attendance was 19,775.

QUOTABLE III: "Every team in this league has to deal with drama. That is except for the San Antonio Spurs."
-- Collins before the game.

GOOD MOVE: Collins gave his bench significant minutes as Lou Williams, Jodie Meeks and Young all played more than 27 minutes and scored a combined 51 points.

NOTABLE: Howard's 22 rebounds were the most by a 76ers opponent this season . . . Local product Jameer Nelson (Chester Pa., St. Joseph's University) struggled as he scored eight points on 2-for-12 shooting . . . The 76ers have now lost 10-of-17 at home after opening the season 12-2 at home. . . . The 76ers have held opponents under 100 points in 24 of their last 25 games . . . The Magic went 24-of-31 from the line compared to the 76ers 15-of-20. Over the last 24 games, the 76ers have seen opponents make as many or more free throws then they have attempted . . .

NEXT: For the Magic, Monday vs. Detroit, Tuesday @ Washington, Friday vs. Atlanta. For the Sixers, Sunday @ Boston, Tuesday @ New Jersey, Wednesday @ Toronto.

• Magic: Anderson, Richardson
• 76ers: --

• Magic: --
• 76ers: --

• Lead Changes: 6
• Times Tied: 6

• Arena: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA
• Officials: #27 Dick Bavetta, #17 Joe Crawford, #34 Kevin Cutler
• Attendance: 19775
• Duration: 2:27