The 76ers are heading into the stretch run hoping to move into the Eastern Conference's fifth playoff position. They're sixth with a 29-29 record after dropping to 0-3 this season against the Magic, the team they'd likely face in the first round if they remain sixth.
For the Sixers to improve their position -- or have a shot at winning a series -- they're going to have to do a better job finishing games. They've lost seven games on shots in the final 30 seconds and have won none in similar fashion. "We've taken it on the chins six or seven times," guard Willie Green said. "It's good to take 'em now because later on in the season, coming down to the final weeks, we want to make sure we start winning some of those games. It's just preparing us for playoff basketball."
The Sixers are 0-8 against the conference's top three clubs, which doesn't seem to bode well for the postseason.
The Sixers are struggling from the foul line, where they are 27th in the league (.743). They missed 14 free throws in Monday's loss to the Nets at the buzzer before misfiring on nine, including six in the fourth quarter, in a Wednesday win over the Wizards. They had 13 more misses in beating the Knicks on Friday before only missing five Saturday against the Magic.
The 3-point arc continues to be a problem for the Sixers at both ends. They have trouble containing opponents' long-distance shooters -- Orlando made 15, including five in the fourth quarter -- and remain last in the league in 3-point percentage (.319).
MAGIC 106, SIXERS 100: Philadelphia slipped to 2-5 since the All-Star break by falling to Orlando. The Sixers were outscored 36-20 in the fourth quarter to give up a 13-point lead. They couldn't stop the Magic and had trouble doing anything offensively in the period, with the exception of Andre Miller (4-for-5 in the fourth quarter). They allowed Orlando to shoot 4-for-7 from 3-point range in the period.
The Sixers were led by Miller (23 points) and Andre Iguodala (22). They only received 10 points from the bench, as sixth man Lou Williams had his second scoreless night of the season.
