The Mercury (Pottstown, PA)

Butler scores 14 in debut as 76ers fall to Magic, 111-106

- By Dick Scanlon

ORLANDO, FLA. >> Jimmy Butler had 14 points in his debut with Philadelph­ia, but the 76ers collapsed late and lost to Orlando 111-106 after Jonathon Simmons hit a 3-pointer with 8.7 seconds left that helped the Magic finish off a big comeback Wednesday night.

Orlando scored 21 straight points in the fourth quarter, then held the 76ers without a field goal over the final 3 1/2 minutes.

Nikola Vucevic had 30 points for the Magic, including two free throws with 5.8 seconds remaining.

Joel Embiid finished with a triple-double of 19 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists for the 76ers, who lost for the seventh time in nine road games. J.J. Redick led Philadelph­ia with 22 points but committed two turnovers in the final 31 seconds.

Butler played 33 minutes and shot 6 for 12 from the field. The four-time All-Star was acquired Monday from

Minnesota in a five-player trade.

Vucevic scored 19 points in the first half to help Orlando come back from a 10-point deficit and lead 53-52 at the break.

Two baskets by Redick during a 10-2 run early in the third quarter put Philadelph­ia up 62-60.

Embiid then made a play that turned the game sharply in the 76ers’ favor for a while. After having the ball stolen from him by Magic forward Wes Iwundu, the 7-footer chased Iwundu down the court and blocked his layup attempt from behind.

Philadelph­ia led 92-76 before the Magic scored 21 consecutiv­e points. They took a five-point lead on a jumper by Simmons.

Wilson Chandler ended the 76ers’ scoreless stretch of nearly four minutes with a short baseline floater. Mike Muscala hit a 3-pointer for their final field goal with 3:33 remaining.

TIP-INS

76ERS >> Embiid made all three of his 3-pointers in the first 4:09 of the game . ... Ben Simmons is 23 for 28 (.821) from the foul line at home, and 22 for 44 (.500) on the road. MAGIC >> F Jonathan Isaac played 16 minutes after missing six games with a sprained right ankle . ... By winning for the fifth time in seven games, the Magic broke a four-game losing streak against the 76ers.

 ?? JOHN RAOUX — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ?? Philadelph­ia 76ers’ guard Jimmy Butler (23) drives the lane past the Orlando Magic’s Evan Fournier during the first half of Wednesday’s game.
JOHN RAOUX — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Philadelph­ia 76ers’ guard Jimmy Butler (23) drives the lane past the Orlando Magic’s Evan Fournier during the first half of Wednesday’s game.
 ?? JOHN RAOUX — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ?? Philadelph­ia 76ers’ guard Jimmy Butler, center, shoots as he gets between Orlando Magic defenders Aaron Gordon (00) and Wesley Iwundu (25) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday in Orlando, Fla. Butler scored 14 in his debut with the 76ers after being traded to Philadelph­ia from the Timberwolv­es last weekend.
JOHN RAOUX — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Philadelph­ia 76ers’ guard Jimmy Butler, center, shoots as he gets between Orlando Magic defenders Aaron Gordon (00) and Wesley Iwundu (25) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday in Orlando, Fla. Butler scored 14 in his debut with the 76ers after being traded to Philadelph­ia from the Timberwolv­es last weekend.

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