Led by Shake Milton’s 24 points, reserves step up as Sixers take down Magic

ORLANDO — For the 76ers, it was the equivalent of chopping down a towering tree.

It took plenty of whacks, but the Orlando Magic eventually came crashing down in the undermanned Sixers’ 107-99 victory.

Friday night’s win at Amway Center improved the Sixers to 10-9. It was the Sixers’ fifth victory in their last seven games.

» READ MORE: Sixers vs. Magic takeaways: Shake Milton’s career night, Georges Niang’s Philly vibe, and Tobias Harris’ impact

Meanwhile, the Magic (5-14) have lost three straight and five of their last six games.

Shake Milton paced the Sixers with 24 points while making a season-high four three-pointers in seven attempts. He also had a career-high 10 assists and nine rebounds.

“I think it was just coming out and not trying to do too much,” he said of what led to his success. “Just trying make plays to help the team win. Since everybody has been down, all the talk has been about sticking together, playing together. playing fast, playing with pace. And I think tonight just a perfect combination of everything for us.”

Milton did have his left thumb taped after the game. The point guard said it got caught in a jersey, and he’ll play against Orlando at 6 p.m. Sunday.

Tobias Harris added 23 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists. De’Anthony Melton (13), Georges Niang (18), and Montrezl Harrell (14) were the Sixers’ other double-digit scorers.

Franz Wagner paced the Magic with 24 points.

» READ MORE: Sixers Mailbag: ‘Why is P.J. Tucker still in the starting lineup?’

The Sixers remained without their three leading scorers in Joel Embiid (left mid-foot sprain), James Harden (right foot strain), and Tyrese Maxey (left foot fracture). In need of an extra body, recently signed two-way point guard Saben Lee arrived at the arena an hour before the game. He dressed for the game but didn’t compete.

When Embiid doesn’t play, they’re at a distinct height disadvantage to a lot of NBA teams. But Friday night was ridiculous against the Magic, who unveiled the third tallest starting lineup in NBA history.

“I like long teams,” Sixers coach Doc Rivers said before the game.

Jalen Suggs, who’s 6-foot-5, was the point guard. He was joined by shooting guard Wagner (6-10), small forward Bol Bol (7-2), power forward Paolo Banchero (6-10), and Mo Bamba (7-0). It was third-tallest starting lineup in NBA history.

“They are just a big, long athletic team” Rivers said. “That’s why you see the promise. You really do. That’s what they are, and they give problems, defensively.”

Their length has made them a solid zone defensive team.

Banchero was the first overall pick in June’s draft. Friday marked his first game back after being sidelined seven games because of a sprained left ankle.

There’s a saying that you can’t teach height. Well, that was obvious as the Magic had a distinct height advantage.

Philly’s starting lineup consisted of forwards Harris (6-9) and P.J. Tucker (6-5), center Harrell (6-7), shooting guard Melton (6-2) and Milton (6-5).

» READ MORE: Sixers play with an edge that’s being sharpened in the absence of their stars

Reserve center Paul Reed (6-9) was the only player off the Sixers bench taller than 6-7. Meanwhile, center Mo Wagner (6-11) and small forward Caleb Houstan (6-8) were the Magic frontcourt players off the bench.

Orlando used its height advantage to score 18 of 29 first-quarter points in the paint. They had 32-18 edge in points in the paint at intermission. The Sixers limited them to 16 in the second half, inclduding six of those coming in the fourth quarter.

“I think it took us longer than expected,” Harris said, “but it took us a half to realize they got a 7-footer out there that was grabbing rebounds and hustling for loose balls. Once we got out in the second half, we switched up and showed a little of the zone from time to time.

“But it really was our defense getting physical and boxing those guys out, letting the guard come in and grab the rebounds.”

The Sixers post players did a solid job of limiting the Magic bigs of grabbing rebounds and forcing them to take tough shots.

Niang gave the Sixers a big lift after intermission.

The reserve power forward was locked in and his normal fiery self after intermission. That’s when he scored 14 of his points while hitting 4 of 5 three-pointers. He even stared at the Magic bench and yelled ‘Let’s [expletive] go” after hitting a three-pointer to put the Sixers up, 96-86, with 6 minutes, 57 seconds remaining. Then he had a long look at the Sixers bench after hitting another three to put them up, 103-93.

“I thought in the first half he was playing too fast, and we talked about that at halftime,” Rivers said. “He even said it as well. In the second half, he just took his time and got to the right shots. And Georges is another guy, if Georges is getting shots, that means the ball’s moving. We found him a lot, which was great. And he makes the shot.”

Tucker was held out of the fourth quarter with what the Sixers later described as left ankle soreness.

The 37-year-old declined to speak to the media following the game. He finished with zero points on 0-for-3 shooting along with five rebounds, one assist, and one turnover. Tucker has not scored a point in five of the last six games. But he did a solid job of defending Banchero in the first half.

Banchero, who finished with 19 points, had eight on 2-for-7 shooting before intermission.

“P.J. … couldn’t go, and we didn’t have anybody that could guard Banchero anymore,” Rivers said. “P.J., in the first half, you can’t do a better job. He scored when P.J. wasn’t on him every time, almost.”