Sixers Bell Ringer: KJ Martin brought energy, Paul George brought stability as the team picked up its third win in four games

Sixers Bell Ringer regular season rankings:

Jared McCain – 8

Paul George – 3

Tyrese Maxey – 3

Guerschon Yabusele – 2

Justin Edwards – 1

Joel Embiid – 1

KJ Martin – 1

Kelly Oubre, Jr. – 1

The Philadelphia 76ers bounced back from their Wednesday loss to the Orlando Magic with one 102-94 win in Friday’s rematch in South Philadelphia.

The Sixers entered the game relatively healthy and only had to deal with Joel Embiid (left knee injury) and Adem Bona (left knee contusion). They were reinforced by Andre Drummond (right ankle sprain), Kyle Lowry (recovering from a right hip injury) and Paul George, who missed just one game on the second night of their meeting to rest his twice hyperextended left knee.

Both teams traded blows in the first quarter, with KJ Martin setting the tone for the Sixers, capping a 10-point first-quarter effort with a baseline dunk with just three seconds left. Orlando’s Franz Wagner would lead the way for the visitors, scoring 15 points in the first frame.

The second quarter was one of the best we’ve seen from the Sixers so far this season. They started the quarter with a 10-0 run after a few steals from Andre Drummond and two assists from George. They ended up outscoring the Magic 25-14 in the quarter by forcing them to make contested threes and using long rebounds in transition. They would end the half with a 50-41 lead.

Neither team shot the ball particularly well in the third quarter, but it was the Sixers’ defensive adjustment to Franz Wagner that made the difference. After scoring 20 points on 47% shooting in the first half, the Sixers began sending in extra defenders and shadowing the defense in their own way on almost every play. He scored just six points in the third quarter and made just one of his six shots.

The problems for Wagner, and therefore his team, continued in the fourth quarter, as no other Magic reached double-digit points until just over 10 minutes before the end of the game. Thanks to solid offensive performances from our Bell Ringer nominees, the Sixers extended their lead to 17 before Jalen Suggs began hitting a barrage of shots and began cutting into the Sixers’ lead.

A combination of strong Magic shooting and missed free throws by the Sixers opened the door, allowing the lead to shrink to just four points with 54 seconds left. To cap off the Sixers’ third win in four games, a few more stops and successful free throw line trips from Guerschon Yabusele and Tyrese Maxey would be needed.

The Sixers’ next game is in Chicago against the Bulls on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET, so be sure to grab your second screen to watch it the eagles And Sixers because it might actually be worth doing now. Until then, Bell Ringer.

KJ Martin: 20 points, 9-10 FG, 3 rebounds, 2 assists

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KJ Martin provided a huge spark off the bench as he saw his first 20+ point performance since March 22, 2023. He achieved this primarily by playing a phenomenal off-ball offense and always finding the open zone when the Magic defense hit the Sixer with the ball. That included some cleanup work on the offensive glass, including a nasty put-back slam in the third quarter.

Martin has seen an increase in minutes recently, playing at least 22 in the last six games. We already knew Martin could be a threat in transition, but his athletic finishing and cuts in the halfcourt lend themselves to a continued prominent role away from the Sixers bench. Not to mention he only missed one of his ten shots from the field.

Paul George: 21 points, 9 assists, 4 rebounds, 1 steal

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George continued his solid performance against the Hornets with another all-around performance against the Magic. George clearly seems to be finding his role in Nick Nurse’s offense and is playing into it well. Not only did he have the job of playmaker, he was also able to fend off a handful of tough offensive players with a contested shot.

George was extremely effective when guarded by smaller defenders because he could see the entire field and make the right play. Whether it was a drive into the box or a passout to a teammate, George brought a sense of stability and consistency to the Sixers’ offense. Nick Nurse also deserves credit for orchestrating him in space throughout the game, as the fact that he can still serve as an offensive anchor is a great sign for the Sixers and should be maximized until Embiid returns. This could also have repercussions on supporting Maxey, who once again struggled against the magic.

Andre Drummond: 7 points, 11 rebounds, 4 steals

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Being the only truly healthy center for the Sixers was a difficult task for Drummond, but he answered the call the only way he knows how. He was a force on offense, grabbing five offensive rebounds and harassing Mo Wagner at points.

Additionally, Drummond would hold his own on defense, even if his right ankle injury still slows him down a bit. He had four steals, many of which he defended at the rim. Friday was the second game in which he reached that mark this season.

Kelly Oubre, Jr.: 13 points, 10 rebounds, 2 steals

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Kelly Oubre, Jr. had an extremely solid game and was able to match the energy that Martin and George brought throughout the game. It’s his first double-double of the season as he collected a season-high in rebounds. Oubre played well as Wagner’s defensive player in the third quarter and helped slow the Magic’s offense. Performances like Friday’s will help Oubre Jr. retain his starting spot

Guerschon Yabusele: 16 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, 1 steal

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It was another great night for Guerschon Yabusele, who took advantage of Mo Wagner’s misposition when his teammates attacked and was very comfortable handling the dribble-handoff offense. His career renaissance continued by consistently finishing difficult layups and avoiding foul trouble in front of a depleted Sixers frontcourt. It’s the third time in five games he’s scored 15+ points.