Sixers get an extended look at Furkan Korkmaz, play Josh Richardson at backup PG vs. Magic

ORLANDO -- For the 76ers, the preseason is about evaluation and opportunities.

Furkan Korkmaz and Josh Richardson got opportunities to shine in different roles Sunday evening against at the Orlando Magic at the Amway Center. Korkmaz, a reserve swingman, was in the Sixers rotation and Richardson served as the backup point guard in addition to being the starting shooting guard.

Richardson had 13 points, five assists, five steals, and four rebounds before exiting the game for good late in the third quarter. Korkmaz had seven points on 3-for-4 shooting -- including making 1 of 2 three-pointers.

“I think everybody responds differently with who they are with," Sixers coach Brett Brown said before the game. “So [the team will] try to get Furk a little bit more [time] with some of our more solid rotation players.”

The Sixers did the same with Shake Milton in Friday’s 100-87 preseason victory over the Charlotte Hornets. The second-year guard was inserted into the starting lineup when Joel Embiid sat out.

Embiid was back in the starting lineup alongside Al Horford, Tobias Harris, Richardson, and Ben Simmons on Sunday night. Richardson became the primary ball handler when Simmons was out of the game.

“This is what preseason, for me, is about, an early preseason as well,” Brown said. “You need to see things.”

Playing point guard isn’t something new for Richardson. He played some point guard at Sante Fe High School in Oklahoma, at the University of Tennessee, and with the Miami Heat.

On Friday, he scored 18 points on 7-for-14 shooting and added a balanced game with four assists, three blocks, and a steal.

"He’s been amazing so far,” Simmons said of Richardson. “Defensively, obviously he’s been a presence communicating with everybody. But offensively, he’s gifted. He can get to the rim and shoot the ball. He has great touch and he’s been a great addition so far.”