The Orlando Magic (0-3) took to the road on Saturday evening in a matchup with the defending NBA Champion Cleveland Cavaliers, and despite coming up short 105-99, did a commendable job in holding their own. Evan Fournier led the team in scoring with 22 points, adding 5 assists and going 9 of 16 from the paint. Serge Ibaka seemed comfortable in his new surroundings, finishing the contest with 19 points and 7 boards on a 7 of 12 shooting night from the field. Nikola Vucevic recorded an 11-points, 9-rebound performance, while reservist Jeff Green game off the pine to log a double-double with 10 points and 10 boards. The Magic had a woeful night from beyond the arc, making only 8-of-28 attempts. Tuesday’s visit to Wells Fargo Center will mark the last of a three-game road trip for Orlando, who return home on Thursday night to face the Sacramento Kings.
The “process” for the Philadelphia 76ers (0-2) is progressing in earnest, even if it isn’t immediately translating into wins. The club hosted their second of three straight home games to start their 2016-17 campaign on Saturday afternoon, getting decimated by the Atlanta Hawks, 104-72. Two starters for the team failed to record a single basket, with both Robert Covington and Gerald Henderson combining to go 0 for 10 from the field and 0 of 6 from three-point range. Joel Embiid and Sergio Rodriguez were the only members of the team with any meaningful offensive production, with the pair dropping 14 points apiece. Embiid went 5 of 9 from the field while Rodriguez added 4 boards and 5 assists. Richaun Holmes emerged off the bench with 10 points and 6 rebounds as the Sixers find themselves in and all too familiar position – starting a new season winless heading into November. The injury-maligned roster contest five of their first six games on home court, where they won seven games last year.
