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.
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.
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.
