76ers Knock Orlando Magic Down Eastern Conference Standings

The Orlando Magic started the 2023-2024 NBA season off as one of the Eastern Conference’s hottest teams. Lately, they’ve been sliding down the standings, and their Wednesday night loss against the Philadelphia 76ers didn’t do them any favors.

Heading into the matchup, the Magic possessed an 18-11 record. They were the fourth seed, facing the third-seeded Sixers, who held a 20-9 record.

Wednesday was an early prove-it game for the Magic, who are entering a transition phase after being considered a rebuilding franchise in recent years.

Orlando found themselves in a favorable situation, taking on a Sixers team that lacked its MVP center, Joel Embiid. As Embiid missed the team’s Monday night matchup against the Miami Heat due to a sprained ankle, he was sidelined for a second straight game in Orlando.

However, Embiid’s absence wasn’t enough for the Magic to overcome the Sixers.

Snagging One in Orlando

The Sixers and the Magic battled it out for the first time this season on Wednesday. Down two starters, the Sixers were led by an impressive offensive performance put on by the trio of Tyrese Maxey, De’Anthony Melton, and Tobias Harris.

Orlando came up short with a 112-92 loss. With that victory, the Sixers advanced to 21-9 on the year. As for the Magic, they lost their first game in three outings, which knocked their record down to 18-12. With the Miami Heat holding the same record now but possessing the tie-breaker, the Magic slid down to fifth place for the time being.

The Magic’s Record Against the East’s Best

Orlando hasn’t cracked a spot in the Eastern Conference Playoffs since the 2020 postseason. That year, they fell short in the first round, repeating their postseason run from the previous year. Before the 2019 playoffs, Orlando missed the postseason six years in a row.

After several years of rebuilding, a young Magic team is working on becoming one of the East’s most notable threats. So far, they are on pace to make the playoffs for the first time in three years, but their record against the postseason regulars above them doesn’t look great so far.

The Magic have faced a combination of the Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks, Miami Heat, and the Sixers seven times so far. Their record in those games is 2-5, with their fifth loss coming at the hands of Philadelphia on Wednesday night.

A lot can change over the course of the season, but the Magic still have a ton to prove at this time.