Playing without All-Star center Joel Embiid, the Philadelphia 76ers leaned on an All-Star center from the previous decade.
Andre Drummond put up a double-double off the bench in the Sixers’ 109-97 win over the Orlando Magic, earning the No. 7 seed and a first-round matchup with the Boston Celtics. The veteran helped wall off the paint and helped the guard-heavy Sixers overcome their size disadvantage against the Magic.
Andre Drummond did it all for the Philadelphia 76ers
Drummond’s presence inside really hurt the Magic. Orlando is a bad three-point shooting team that couldn’t convert on countless drives to the hoop Wednesday, largely because of Drummond and Aden Bona, who each blocked three shots. Drummond scored 14 points, collected 10 rebounds and delivered two slick assists.
But the biggest sign that Drummond could do no wrong on Wednesday came with the dagger three-pointer he sank with 41 seconds to go in regulation. Drummond had made just 18 threes in the first 13 seasons of his NBA career before making 32 at a shocking 35.6 percent clip this season. He went 2-for-3 Wednesday night.