From Joel Embiid and James Harden one night, to Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving the next. It has not been an easy week for the Orlando Magic defense.
Despite what the stat line suggests, the Magic fared well against the Sixers’ power duo during Sunday’s 116-114 overtime loss. Embiid shot just 9-for-28 from the field and Harden went just 5-for-19, but they got star treatment from officials and combined to go 28-for-32 from the free throw line to help the Sixers erase what had been a 17-point Orlando lead.
Now comes Durant and Irving, who last week became the first teammates in NBA history to have 50-point games over a three-game span.