The Philadelphia 76ers have always been a competitive team, despite their playoff record recently.  And this year’s first-round series between the Sixers and Orlando Magic has been no different.  You look on paper and one would think that Orlando would have the decided advantage.  But Philadelphia has beaten better teams in the first round in the past, so you can assume that the Magic have taken them seriously. 

In Thursday’s game between the Sixers and Magic would be different in that Orlando would be without star center Dwight Howard who was suspended due to an elbow he threw during Game 5; as a result, Marcin Gortat replaced Howard in the starting lineup.  But it was the play of Rashard Lewis as he poured in 29 points, leading Orlando past Philadelphia 114-89 at Wachovia Center, setting up a second-round matchup with the winner of the Chicago-Boston series.

To illustrate how dominant the Magic were in this particular contest, they outscored the 76ers in every quarter and bested them in all of the important statistical categories (rebounds 41-36, assists 31-17, turnover 12-16, steals 10-4 and blocked shots 5-2) – it was that lopsided.  They even had more technicals than Philadelphia as Hedo Turkoglu got booted for an elbow thrown at Philadelphia’s Samuel Dalembert – who received one himself – while Magic coach Stan Van Gundy got assessed a technical, as well. 

Orlando’s high scorer was Lewis with 29 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 blocks while Rafer Alston added 21 (including three treys) with 2 rebounds, 10 assists, and 3 steals; J.J. Redick chipped in 15 (including five 3-pointers) with 3 rebounds, 4 assists and a steal.

Philadelphia was led by Andre Miller with 24 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists while Andre Iguodala added 20 (including four 3-pointers) with 3 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals; Lou Williams poured in 17 with a rebound and 3 assists while Dalembert grabbed 13 boards in a losing effort.  As previously mentioned, Orlando – with the win – advances to the second round, facing the winner of the Chicago-Boston series.

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