Magic unable to slow down 76ers in 3rd straight loss

Jason Beede, Orlando Sentinel on Oct 27, 2025

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

When the Orlando Magic dropped back-to-back games at Kia Center on Friday and Saturday, their issues came on the offensive end of the floor.

Monday night at Philadelphia, Orlando scored 124 points, had three players score 22-plus and posted 62 points in the paint.

The offensive output, however, was all for naught when the Magic dropped their third game in a row to open a five-game road trip. The Philadlephia 76ers, led by Tyrese Maxey’s 43 points, cruised to a 136-124 victory at Xfinity Mobile Arena on a night that saw Jamahl Mosley‘s squad lack its usual defensive intensity.

Without All-NBA duo Joel Embiid (left knee injury management) and Paul George (left knee surgery recovery), Philly’s Maxey, No. 3 overall pick VJ Edgecombe (26) and Kelly Oubre Jr. (25) totaled 94 in their third straight win.

Orlando (1-3) was able to get within two points with 6:04 left but the Sixers (3-0) outscored them 21-11 towards the end of the fourth quarter. The Sixers finished with just seven turnovers for the night.

The Magic continue their longest trip of the season Wednesday at Detroit on the first night of a back-to-back. Orlando travels to Charlotte the next night.

Starting 5

With Jalen Suggs back available, he joined regulars Desmond Bane, Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Wendell Carter Jr.

Banchero was efficient when he hit 5 of his first 7 shots and opened 6 for 6 at the charity stripe to reach 17 at the break. He was able to take what Philadelphia gave him and attacked the paint with confidence, not slowing down in the second half to end with 32.

Although Bane found his rhythm on offense, he found himself quickly in foul trouble early in the third quarter. He picked up his third and fourth fouls in a matter of moments less than two minutes into the second half and later earned his fifth with less than five minutes left in the game. The sixth-year pro, who posted 24 points in 34 minutes, fouled out of the game with 2:24 left.

Suggs added 12 points in 21 minutes as his time on the court continues to increase following a return from injury.

Similar to Banchero, Wagner had success getting to the free throw line, converting 5 of his first 7 attempts to post 14 by halftime.

Orlando’s starters scored 53 of the team’s first 60 points in the opening half and 100 of the total 124.

Second unit

Mosley made a major change in his rotation when he turned to rookie Noah Penda midway through the first quarter.

Penda took the place of Jonathan Isaac as the second-round draft pick joined Anthony Black, Tyus Jones, Goga Bitadze and Tristan da Silva off the bench.

But Orlando’s reserves failed to make their mark on the game when only Black (14 points) scored in double figures. Bitadze (five points), Penda (three) and Jones (two) combined for 10 while da Silva was held scoreless in 15 minutes.

Philadelphia’s bench outscored Orlando’s 31-24.

Free points

After missing six free throws the other night against the Chicago Bulls, the Magic continued to struggle at the charity stripe against the Sixers.

Orlando shot 68.4% (26 for 38) in the 12-point loss while allowing Philadelphia to shoot 32 free throws, 26 of which they made (81.3%).

Black, in particular, struggled at the free throw line when he shot 3 for 7. Bitadze didn’t help either when he ended 1 for 4 at the line.

Penda debut

The French forward played seven minutes after he checked into the game at the 4:46 of the first quarter. On his first offensive possession, he grabbed an offensive rebound that led to an easy layup for Black.

Penda scored his first points as a pro (and only of the night) when he hit a wide-open 3 from the left corner five minutes into the second quarter. He didn’t play in the second half.

____