Orlando, FL – Jameer Nelson netted 24 points to go with 10 assists, as the Orlando Magic outlasted the Philadelphia 76ers, 99-91, on Sunday at Amway Center.
Arron Afflalo followed with 17 points, while former Sixer Nikola Vucevic posted 14 points and 17 rebounds to help the Magic snap a seven-game home losing streak.
Thaddeus Young scored a game-high 26 points and grabbed 12 boards for the Sixers, who have lost 13 straight on the road.
"They just made shots at the end," Young admitted. "I think we played good defense but they made some tough shots."
Philadelphia trailed by just one, 73-72, heading into the fourth and after the teams traded buckets for much of the frame, the Sixers found themselves within two, 91-89, with under three minutes left.
Jrue Holiday then stepped to the line for two free throws that would have tied the game, but the All-Star guard missed both before Afflalo knocked down a jumper to push Orlando's lead to four.
After both teams came up empty on their next touches, Damien Wilkins turned the ball over in the backcourt, and Afflalo promptly buried a 3-pointer from the left corner to make it 96-89 with 59.8 ticks left.
Philadelphia managed just one bucket over the final minute, allowing Orlando to hang on for the victory.
"We held them to 40 points in the second half," Magic coach Jacque Vaughn remarked. "That'll give you a chance to win every single night, whether shots are going in, whether the 3-ball is going in, whether you get to the free- throw line or not. Playing defense like that gives you a chance to win."
The Sixers led 30-28 after 12 minutes, but Vucevic and Tobias Harris combined for 16 points on 8-of-11 shooting in the second stanza to help Orlando take a 56-51 lead into the break.
Philadelphia opened the second half on a 17-7 surge to turn a five-point deficit into a five-point lead, but the Magic closed the quarter on a 10-4 swing to take a slim 73-72 edge into the fourth.
Game Notes
Wilkins finished with 16 points for Philadelphia ... Harris added 15 points and seven rebounds for Orlando ... Philadelphia fell to 7-22 on the road overall ... Orlando improved to 10-24 at home.
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