Photo for Headline Surfer / Evan Fournier drives to the basket for two points earlier in the second quarter of Friday's game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports in Orlando.The Magic lost 109-101.
By HENRY FREDERICK / Headline Surfer
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The Orlando Magic have clinched a playoff spot for the second year in a row - something this franchise hadn't accomplished since the 2011-'12 season.
“It means a lot,” D.J. Augustin said. “It hasn’t been done in about eight years, so it’s a big thing for us as a team, for the franchise, for the fans, and it’s very important to us.”
The Orlando Magic have clinched a playoff spot for the second year in a row - something this franchise hadn't accomplished since the 2011-'12 season. “It means a lot,” D.J. Augustin said. “It hasn’t been done in about eight years, so it’s a big thing for us as a team, for the franchise, for the fans, and it’s very important to us.”
Last season, the Magic earned the seventh seed among the the eight post-season spots in the Eastern Conference where they lost lost in five games to the eventual champion Toronto Raptors.
The Magic were competitive with the 76ers for most of the game Friday night at ESPN Wide World of Sports’ HP Field House until late in the fourth quarter, when the game got away from them for a 108-101 loss.
The 76ers were led by Joel Embiid and Tobias Harris who each scored 23 points with Al Horford had 21 points. Reserve guard Alec Burk contributed 22 points. Harris had 15 rebounds to Embiid's 13. Philadelphia (42-27) sits in 6th place in the Eastern Conference.
Evan Fournier led the Magic with 22 points, Nikola Vucevic was one behind with 21 points and 12 rebounds and Augustin had 16 points. James Ennis and Markelle Fultz contributed 14 and 13 points, respectively.
The 76ers were led by Joel Embiid and Tobias Harris who each scored 23 points with Al Horford had 21 points. Reserve guard Alec Burk contributed 22 points. Harris had 15 rebounds to Embiid's 13. Philadelphia (42-27) sits in 6th place in the Eastern Conference. Evan Fournier led the Magic with 22 points, Nikola Vucevic was one behind with 21 points and 12 rebounds, and Augustin had 16 points. James Ennis and Markelle Fultz, contributed 14 and 13 points, respectively.
This was the third straight loss for Orlando, which stands at 32-38. Even with the loss, Orlando gained a playoff beirth. That's because the Washington Wizards lost to the New Orleans Pelicans, 118-10.
The Magic have secured the eighth and final seed in the Eastern Conferencem, but still have an outside chance of passing the New Jersey Nets and moving up to the seventh seed.
The Magic are fortunate to have clinched a playoff spot considering a rash of injuries this season to key players:
• Nikola Vucevic, the Magic’s leading scorer this year and the and its longest-tenured player, missed 11 games in late November and early December with an ankle injury.
• Aaron Gordon has a strained hamstring that forced him to miss Friday's game. Michael Carter-Williams, who has a foot strain also sat out Friday's game with Philly.
• Al-Farouq Aminu suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee in early December and is out for the season.
• Jonathan Isaac tore his ACL against the Sacramento Kings earlier this week and us gone for the season.
Henry Frederick is publisher of Headline Surfer, the award-winning 24/7 internet news outlet launched 12 years ago that serves greater Daytona Beach, Sanford & Orlando, Florida via HeadlineSurfer.com. Frederick has amassed more than a hundred journalism industry awards in print & online -- more than than all other members of the working press combined in Central Florida since the mid-1990s. He earned his Master of Arts in New Media Journalism with academic honors from Full Sail University in 2019. Having witnessed the execution of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Florida's death chamber and other high profile cases, Frederick has appeared on national crime documentary programs on Discovery ID and Reelz for his investigative reporting and cops & courts breaking news stories.