By Sam Bush
There was good news and bad news for the Sixers last night at the Wells Fargo Center.
First the bad:
Tobias Harris sank a jumper at the buzzer to give the Magic their first victory of the season, 91-89. Former Sixers Nik Vucevic scored 17 points and Channing Frye had 13 points and 11 rebounds for Orlando. Harris had 18 points and eight rebounds to help the Magic snap a season-opening, four-game losing streak.
Now, more bad:
Rookie big Nerlens Noel turned his ankle at the beginning of the third quarter and will be evaluated today.
Now the good:
NBA Rookie of the Year Michael Carter-Williams returns to practice today for the first time this season following surgery in May to repair the labrum of his right shoulder.
Carter-Williams was only the third player since 1950-51 to lead all rookies in scoring (16.7), rebounding (6.3) and assists (6.2), joining Oscar Robertson (1960-61) and Alvan Adams (1975-76). Allen Iverson is the only other player in Sixers history to win the rookie award.
The Sixers are now 0-5 for the first time since the 2001-02 season. Tony Wroten scored 27 points and Brandon Davies (photo above) had 20 to give the Sixers two 20-point scorers in a game for the first time this season.
Henry Sims gave the Sixers a momentary glimmer of hope when he swished the tying bucket from the top of the key with 4.6 seconds left.
Harris dashed it in a hurry when he buried a fallaway at the horn for the thrilling win.
“It was just good to come out and get a win today,” Harris said. “I think moments like that really show the extra time and work I put in. It was good to make that shot and just overall great to get that victory.”
“It highlights to our young guys there is no margin for error,” coach Brett Brown said.
As in most of their first four games, the Sixers kept the score close for most of the first three quarters, but didn’t have enough in the fourth.
And the immediate future is bleak. The Sixers play their third home game of the week Friday against Chicago. Then games against Toronto, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio mean it could be late in the month before their next legitimate shot against Boston.
