By Melissa Potes
Eagle News Service
ORLANDO, Fla. (Eagle News) – On a night when the Philadelphia 76ers’ top three leading scorers, Joel Embiid, James Harden, and Tyrese Maxey, were out with injuries, Tobias Harris and the reserves pulled out a tough win against a youthful and oversized Orlando Magic team.
The Magic had a significant size advantage with 7-footers Mo Bamba and Bol Bol providing a tough task for the Sixers. But after halftime adjustments, Philadelphia played aggressive defense to overcome the size advantage, winning 107-99.
“I think it took us a half to realize that they got 7-footers out there, grabbing rebounds, hustling for loose balls,” said Harris on the Sixers’ halftime adjustments. “Once we got out on the second half… it was really our defense getting physical, boxing those guys out. Letting the guards come in [and] grab the rebounds. For the bigs, 3 through 5, it’s really checking them out, making sure those guys didn’t get the rebounds [and] allowing them to take tough shots”
Just shy of a triple-double, guard Shake Milton led all scorers with 24 points, 10 assists, and 9 rebounds.
“Just seeing the game and honestly with having the ball a little more, having more time, not feeling like I have to force it. Just reading the game and taking what the defense gives me…and keep trying to see the floor so you just build confidence,” said Milton about his performance.
Harris had a double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds. He received help with the sharp-shooting forward Georges Niang, who scored 18 points, going 5 of 7 from three-point range.
Harris commented on Niang’s contribution to the team.
“He’s a one-man culture changer…He has that positive attitude, just a great feel for the game of basketball and how to play the right way,” Harris said. “He knows how to play basketball at a very high level. He’s been amazing for our whole team, organization, group.”
On the Sixers overall play and win, Harris said, “a game like tonight, for this group, we could have easily allowed them to push the momentum in the first half into the second. But we really took a stance and really locked in mentally that we were going to win this game, get focused out there.”
The Sixers will need the same formula as they face the Magic again on Sunday.
(Eagle News Service)