BOX SCORE
Orlando is a talented team, but there is currently a disconnect. The Magic came to the Wells Fargo Center riding a three-game losing streak, during which they averaged just 78 points a game.
The Magic didn't reach 78 points on Monday night, and had it not been for a late spurt after the Sixers relaxed, would have gotten nowhere near that number. The Sixers extended Orlando's losing streak to four, 74-69.
The Sixers allowed the game to get interesting in the final 3:13. They led 68-49 but were outscored the rest of the way, 20-6. Their 6-of-12 foul shooting in the fourth quarter did not help the cause, but they held on to improve their record to 15-6 overall, 11-2 on their home floor.
If the Sixers had concerns about Orlandos centerpiece given that their top two centers are banged up, veteran Tony Battie eased those worries. Battie came through, tying his season-high by playing 17 minutes, while posting a season-high in points and rebounds with eight and nine respectively.
The Sixers limited the Magic to 33 first-half points and 33 percent shooting for the game.
Turning point
The Sixers defense in the third quarter was superb. They allowed Orlando to make just 3 of 17 shots from the floor, which included 0 of 6 from three. Their four-point halftime lead grew to 16.
Orlandos nine points were the fewest scored in any quarter by any Sixers opponent this year.
NBA
Follow the leader
When Andre Iguodala grabbed his ninth rebound of the game, put it back up and was fouled with 1:30 to play in the third quarter, the Sixers went up by 16 and the crowd on hand thought the effort deserved a standing ovation.
One game after having the eighth triple-double of his now eight-year NBA career, Iguodala had a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds. He also had six assists and two steals, but his free throw shooting was dreadful. He was 3 for 9, including three misses (one an airball) in the final minute of play.
Thaddeus Young and Evan Turner also scored in double figures. Turner had 12 points, while Young had 10, all coming in the first half.
Dwight Howard led all scorers with 17 points and he, too, had 11 rebounds. Howard, who came in shooting 44 percent from the foul line, was 5 of 13.
Stat-egic
There is such a contrast between the Sixers and Magic when it comes to style of play. Offensively, the Sixers move the ball. They had 13 assists on 17 made field goals in the first half. The Magic had just four assists on 12 makes. Orlando stayed close because it made four three-pointers.
Take a bow
Elton Brand made his first four field goal attempts, all in the first six minutes of the game. By games end Brand had eight points, seven assists and four blocked shots.
Brand is averaging 11 points per game on 49 percent shooting this season. He also grabs 6.7 rebounds, which is second on the team to Spencer Hawes, who averages 8.8 boards but has missed the last eight contests with a strained Achilles'.
Whats next?
The Sixers will host the Bulls on Wednesday night and Chicago comes to town with the Eastern Conferences best record of 18-5, as well the reigning MVP in Derrick Rose. Rose is sixth in the NBA in scoring (22.6 points per game) and eighth in assists (7.8)
Wednesday will be the sixth of seven straight home games for the Sixers.
E-mail Dei Lynam at dlynam@comcastsportsnet.com.