Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 5:02 am Post subject: SIXERS LOSE TWO STARTERS
Posted on Fri, Jan. 23, 2004
76ers lose game, 2 starters
By Dan Gelston
Associated Press
Tracy McGrady scored 33 points and the Orlando Magic defeated Philadelphia 98-93 tonight as the 76ers lost starters Derrick Coleman and Kenny Thomas to injuries.
Without those two in the lineup, the Magic built a 13-point lead in the second quarter. Gordan Giricek scored the final seven points of the third quarter to make it 69-58. He finished with 19.
Juwan Howard scored 18, and Keith Bogans added 13 points for the Magic.
The Sixers rallied late as John Salmons made two driving layups and Kyle Korver hit a 3-pointer to cap a 13-4 run. Allen Iverson sank an 18-footer to make it 81-79, but that was close as the Sixers would get.
McGrady scored on fast-break layup, then stole the ball from Iverson and turned that into two free throws to stretch the lead back to eight. Korver, who finished with 12 points, hit another 3 to make it 87-84, but the Magic sealed the win from the line.
Iverson scored 30 and Glenn Robinson 20 for the Sixers, who have already had an injury-plagued year.
Derrick Coleman will be out at least six weeks after breaking his right pinkie late in the first quarter. It wasn't clear when Coleman was hurt, but he was flexing his hand during one of the final timeouts of the first quarter.
Coleman had the finger placed in a cast. Coleman had been bothered all year with injuries, most recently a sprained left knee. He's missed 13 games and was averaging 8.7 points and 6.2 rebounds.
Thomas sustained a corneal abrasion in his left eye after taking an elbow from Zaza Pachulia while the two went for a rebound. Thomas writhed in pain on the court before teammates helped him to the locker room.
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Eric Snow had 11 assists for the Sixers. Notes: The Sixers used the same starting lineup for the third straight game. Only once this season have they had the same lineup for four straight games. ... Howard was whistled for a technical in the third quarter. ... The Sixers are 10-11 at home. ... Magic coach Johnny Davis coached the Sixers during the 1996-1997 season, going 22-60 before he was fired and replaced by Larry Brown.
