Orlando @ Philadelphia preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 1, 2018 ) Orlando 114, Philadelphia 120

Joel Embiid seeks to post his third straight double-double to start the season when the Philadelphia 76ers host the Orlando Magic on Saturday. Embiid recorded at least 30 points and 10 rebounds in the same game for the seventh time in his career as the 76ers defeated the Chicago Bulls 127-108 on Thursday.

Embiid had 30 points and 12 rebounds against the Bulls and he was pumped up for the contest after being tentative while having 23 points and 10 boards in a season-opening 105-87 loss to the Boston Celtics. "I thought against Boston I was really passive at times," Embiid told reporters. "I was in a different mindset (against Chicago). I wanted to dominate, but at the same time, I wanted to try to use my strength, and not my head." Orlando was mauled 120-88 by the visiting Charlotte Hornets on Friday, a contest that saw the Magic score just 10 first-quarter points. Power forward Aaron Gordon had just five points on 2-of-9 shooting after pouring in 26 points during a season-opening 104-101 triumph over the Miami Heat.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FS Florida (Orlando), NBCS Philadelphia

ABOUT THE MAGIC (1-1): Getting blown out at home in the second contest of the season equated to an embarrassing night for the Orlando players and coaches. "It was a poor performance on every level and you can't have nights like that," shooting guard Evan Fournier told reporters afterward. "It's gonna happen, but it's just gotta be once or twice a year, max, that's it. So we blew a joker already." The Magic shot 38.3 percent from the field, including 6-of-31 from 3-point range, and allowed the Hornets to drain 17 3-pointers.

ABOUT THE 76ERS (1-1): Reigning Rookie of the Year Ben Simmons registered his first triple-double of the season and 13th of his career by contributing 13 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists against the Bulls. Many of the assists came on inside passes to Embiid, who was 9-of-14 from the field thanks to several easy set-ups. "I think we just kind of clicked," Simmons told reporters. "We were looking to get that momentum back from where we were from last year, and I finally felt like we kind of got it back a little bit."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The 76ers won last season's three meetings by an average of 16.7 points.

2. Fournier is just 10-of-30 shooting -- including 2-of-14 from 3-point range -- while averaging 12.5 points over the first two games.

3. Philadelphia F Wilson Chandler (hamstring) is expected to miss his third straight game.

PREDICTION: 76ers 111, Magic 103