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Jimmy Butler scores 14 in Sixers' loss to Magic

November 15, 2018 at 6:28AM
The Orlando Magic's Jonathon Simmons (17) screams as he is fouled by the Philadelphia 76ers' Jimmy Butler (23) at the Amway Center in Orlando, Fla., on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel/TNS)
The Magic’s Jonathon Simmons screamed as he was fouled by the 76ers’ Jimmy Butler on Wednesday in Orlando, Fla. Butler had 14 points, four rebounds, two assists and two turnovers. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
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ORLANDO, FLA. – Everything about Jimmy Butler's first game with the 76ers was going great, until the fourth quarter.

Butler had 14 points in his Philadelphia debut, but the 76ers collapsed late and lost to Orlando 111-106 after Terrence Ross hit a tiebreaking three-pointer with 8.7 seconds left that helped the Magic finish off a big comeback Wednesday night.

"We're going to be just fine because once we put this together, we're going to be tough," said Butler, acquired Monday from the Timberwolves in a five-player swap.

The four-time All-Star played 33 minutes and shot 6-for-12 from the field after a couple of days spent adjusting to the big trade. He added four rebounds and two assists.

"A lot has been going on, but that's no excuse for not winning," he said. "No matter what, we're expected to win. I'm expecting to win, and we're expecting to win as a team. So that isn't an excuse."

Orlando scored 21 straight points in the fourth quarter, then held the 76ers without a basket over the final 3½ minutes.

"You don't just click your heels and win NBA games. We will use this as a way to remind everyone that this is the NBA," said 76ers coach Brett Brown. "Although we lost, the organization of the things we put in put us in decent position. If we can get three shots [in the final minute] instead of three turnovers, maybe we're talking to each other about a win."

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

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"They just made a big trade, and we knew they were probably going to be very fired up to come in and play well," said Vucevic, who scored 11 in the fourth quarter. "We stayed poised for 48 minutes. We got down 16 and we kept fighting. Getting stops was the big thing."

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.

Vucevic had 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.

The 76ers made only seven of 18 shots in the fourth quarter. But the big number, according to Magic coach Steve Clifford, was free throws: 12 for Orlando, two for Philadelphia.

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"It's been an area of weakness, and then tonight in the fourth quarter we didn't foul," Clifford said. "Keeping the other team out of the bonus is a big deal, and in the fourth quarter it's even a bigger deal."

Philadelphia 76ers' Jimmy Butler moves the ball against the Orlando Magic during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Jimmy Butler started and played 33 minutes in his debut with the Sixers following his trade from the Wolves. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
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DICK SCANLON Associated Press

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