Sixers-Magic 5 Things: Hitting the Road With a Win Streak

The Sixers (26-43) kick off a five-game road trip against the Orlando Magic (25-45) at the Amway Center (7 p.m./CSN, CSNPhilly.com and the NBC Sports app).

Let's take a closer look at the matchup:

1. Oh, snap
It took a big effort from the bench and a second-half rally, but the Sixers were still able to get the job done.

They surged ahead during the fourth quarter on Sunday afternoon for a 105-99 win over the Isaiah Thomas-less Boston Celtics. The victory snapped an 11-game skid to the Celtics.

The reserves played a major role as they accounted for 43 points in the win.

"What stood out to me the most was how our bench came in and really gave us that momentum in the third," Robert Covington said. "They came in with tremendous energy from both sides of the court. Our defense got amped up and it trickled to our offensive side and we made a big run to finish out the quarter."

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2. On the road again
The regular season may be coming to a close soon, but Monday's matchup opens up the Sixers' longest road trip of the season.

While there are no perceived heavyweights coming up on the schedule, that doesn't mean the games won't be meaningful. There are postseason implications in several of the games.

The Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers are jockeying for playoff seeding in their respective conferences, while the Chicago Bulls are just a game out of the eighth seed in the East.

The Sixers will have a chance to put a damper on some playoff dreams amid their season-long trek.

3. Dario is dialed in
While the Sixers' last meeting with the Magic will be remembered for T.J. McConnell's game-winning jumper with 5.8 seconds left, it would be hard not to mention Dario Saric's role in the game.

Saric scored 26 points -- then a career-high -- in that 112-111 victory on Feb. 9. It marked Saric's first time going above the 25-point mark, something he has done three times since as he continues to increase his odds for Rookie of the Year.

With Saric fresh off a 23-point effort in Sunday's comeback against the Celtics, we'll see what he has in store for the Sixers' final tilt against the Magic.

4. Injuries
Jahlil Okafor (knee) and Justin Anderson (illness) are uncertain to play. Tiago Splitter (calf), Joel Embiid (knee), Ben Simmons (foot) and Jerryd Bayless (wrist) are out for the Sixers.

Jodie Meeks (thumb) is a game-time decision for the Magic.

5. This and that
* The Sixers are going for their fourth three-game win streak of the season. Prior to this season, their last three game win streak was when they won four in a row from Dec. 29-Jan. 4 during the 2013-14 season.

* In 15 career games against his former team, Nikola Vucevic has averaged 19.8 points and 12.9 rebounds against the Sixers.

* The Sixers had 13 steals in the last meeting between the two teams, including one by McConnell on the final inbounds play after his clutch jumper.

* Magic guard Elfrid Payton is averaging 11.9 points, 8.3 assists and 7.8 rebounds per game in March.

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