A preview of Wednesday's Play-In Tournament matchup between the Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic.
The No. 7 seed Philadelphia 76ers are facing off against the No. 8 seed Orlando Magic on Wednesday night at 7:30 PM ET in Xfinity Mobile Arena.
The 76ers ended their regular season with a 20-point victory over the Giannis Antetokounmpo-less Milwaukee Bucks. Guards Tyrese Maxey and Quentin Grimes led the charge in that matchup, combining for 41 points on 15 of 26 shooting. Prior to the win against the Bucks, Philadelphia fell short in three of four matchups.
Meanwhile, the Magic choked away the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference by losing to the shorthanded Boston Celtics on Sunday. Orlando star forward Paolo Banchero had a triple double, but it wasn't enough to overcome the efforts of Baylor Scheierman, Ron Harper Jr., and Luka Garza.
Key Matchups:
Paul George vs. Paolo Banchero
Banchero is widely regarded as the Magic's top player, so chances are George will be given the tall task of shutting him down. The Orlando forward is coming off a 20-point triple-double performance against the shorthanded Boston Celtics, while George had an underwhelming showing in the 76ers' regular-season finale versus the Milwaukee Bucks.
Tyrese Maxey vs. Jalen Suggs
Suggs is seen as one of the NBA's most tenacious perimeter defenders, meaning he'll be pestering Maxey for the majority of the night. Philadelphia's All-Star guard has struggled to find a consistent rhythm since returning from injury, and breaking out of the slump won't be easy against the Magic's guards.
Injury Report:
76ers
Johni Broome: Out - Right Knee; Surgery Recovery
Joel Embiid: Out - Post Appendectomy; Surgery Recovery
Tyrese Maxey: Available - Right Finger; Tendon Strain - Splint
Trendon Watford: Probable - Illness
Magic
Wendell Carter Jr.: Available - Nasal Fracture; Face Mask
Jett Howard: Questionable - Left Ankle; Sprain
Jonathan Isaac: Questionable - Left Knee; Sprain
How Each Team Can Emerge Victorious:
76ers
Rely on Tyrese Maxey and Paul George to carry the scoring load while the rest of the rotation contributes on both ends of the floor.
Magic
Not only do Orlando's guards need to throw off Maxey on the offensive end, but the often inconsistent forward duo of Banchero and Franz Wagner also needs to be at their best.
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