The Philadelphia 76ers are building chemistry among the members of their version of the “Big Three,” and that’s music to the ears of star Joel Embiid.
Winners of four of their last five games overall, the 76ers will look to continue their recent good fortune on Friday when they open a three-game road trip against the Orlando Magic.
The teams have split the first two contests of their three-game season series.
Tyrese Maxey, who erupted for 43 points in Philadelphia’s 136-124 victory over Orlando on Oct. 27, started off fast in the 76ers’ 131-110 win over Washington on Wednesday. He scored 16 of his 22 points in the first quarter versus the Wizards.
Embiid had 28 points on 10-of-14 shooting from the floor on Wednesday while playing in his fifth consecutive game.
“The chemistry has always been great,” Embiid said of playing with Maxey and Paul George (23 points on Wednesday). “Obviously, it’s nice when you’re making shots. All of us did in the first half. The third quarter, I kind of got going a little bit, but it all depends on game to game.”
VJ Edgecombe, who scored 26 points in the first encounter with Orlando, contributed 13 points, seven assists and five steals on Wednesday. He has averaged 16.4 points per game to make his presence felt during his rookie season.
“Some games, it’s gonna look like that,” Embiid said. “Some games is going to be Tyrese and PG, Tyrese and VJ, or me and PG, vice versa. So, just got to keep working together, but my main focus is, I think if we’re a better team defensively, that’s when we’re gonna go wherever we want to. Offensively, I think we have enough talent to do whatever we want. So, it’s all about locking in defensively.”
Kelly Oubre Jr. scored two points on 1-of-4 shooting in 20 minutes while making his long-awaited return from a left knee sprain.
“It’s been a long journey to get back out there, and it felt amazing just to even be able to just touch the court and do anything out there,” he said of playing in his first game since Nov. 14. “So, it felt good.”
The Magic will look to halt the narrative of alternating wins and losses when they take the floor on Friday. Orlando has traded wins and losses over its last 12 games.
Paolo Banchero banked home a 3-pointer at the buzzer to fuel the Magic to a 104-103 overtime victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday. Banchero’s clutch bucket helped Orlando bounce back from a 120-112 setback to Washington on Tuesday.
“Paolo read it right, took the out-route and was able to hit a heck of a shot,” Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley said. “That’s big time for him (and) big time for this group to bounce off a back-to-back when we didn’t play our best basketball last night but then to come in (Wednesday) and scrap the way we needed to.”
Banchero notched his 11th double-double by collecting 30 points and 14 rebounds on Wednesday. He scored 32 points in the first meeting with Philadelphia.
Banchero didn’t play in the second encounter versus the 76ers on Nov. 25 due to injury, but the Magic benefited from a 51-point second quarter in a 144-103 rout. Anthony Black scored 31 points off the bench to propel Orlando.
