An afternoon showdown will get underway in Las Vegas on Wednesday. The 76ers are looking to rebound following a 90-64 throttling against the Rockets yesterday. As for the Magic, they’ll attempt to pick up their third win of the Summer League. Which of these Eastern Conference foes has the edge in this one?
The Magic enter as 3.5-point favorites with -166 moneyline odds on DraftKings Sportsbook. The 76ers are +140 underdogs, with the game total set at 184.5 points. Let’s dive into a preview, pick and prediction for today’s matchup.
76ers vs. Magic preview, prediction
The duo of Johni Broome and Labaron Philon have done most of the heavy lifting for Philadelphia’s offense over the past week. However, the former was held in check on Tuesday against the Rockets; he only managed to record two points on one-of-five shooting (20.0% FG). It was a different story for Philon, arguably the club’s most talented young prospect. The rookie dropped 17 points against Houston, continuing what’s been a productive Summer League campaign. The Alabama alum is averaging 19.7 points and 5.7 assists per game. If he continues to operate at that level, along with a better showing from Broome, this 76ers club becomes difficult to beat.
Unfortunately, the rest of this roster leaves plenty to be desired. The only other name that has served as a consistent source of offense is Dante Maddox Jr. (15.3 PPG). Otherwise, it’s anyone’s guess as to who will step up for Philly. After scoring 100+ points during their first two matchups, the Sixers came out flat against the Rockets yesterday. On the second leg of a back-to-back, fatigue will be something to monitor. As of Wednesday morning, there’s no indication that the 76ers will rest either Broome or Philon. Still, it wouldn’t be a shock to see their minutes limited this afternoon.
On the other side, the Magic come into today’s game with some momentum. They’ve reeled off two straight wins, most recently taking down the Trail Blazers in overtime on Sunday. To boot, Orlando is the far more well-rested club heading into this one. It’s been a fairly balanced effort on offense for this group, with multiple impact scorers. Against the Blazers, six different players notched double-digit points. Among the names worth watching, former Warriors guard Lester Quinones (17.7 PPG) has impressed. The 25-year-old dropped 28 points during his most recent appearance on Sunday. Florida alum Colin Castleton has also been a source of offense, dropping 38 combined points over his last two outings.
If there’s a caveat for Orlando, it’s availability. Jase Richardson and Noah Penda, two of the team’s best young prospects, were held out against Portland. It was the second leg of a back-to-back, so it remains to be seen if this was just a precautionary move. If one or both are able to suit up on Wednesday, it would make this Magic offense far more difficult to contain. On the other end, Orlando should have enough size to keep Broome in check. Castleton and 6’10” rookie Izaiyah Nelson should play a key role on defense.
76ers vs. Magic pick, best bet
It’s never a good sign when a team looks completely flat on the first leg of a back-to-back. Even if Richardson and Penda sit, the Magic possess far more depth than the 76ers. That’s before factoring in their significant rest advantage. If one of Broome or Philon isn’t at their best, this could be an uphill climb for Philadelphia. Back Orlando to cover this afternoon.
