3 Reasons the Orlando Magic Beat the 76ers in NBA Summer League

Written by: DJ Jones

Las Vegas — Jase Richardson returned to the lineup and provided a spark, scoring a game-high 25 points with four assists to lead the Orlando Magic to a 99-92 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. Despite a late fourth-quarter comeback by Philadelphia, Orlando held on for its third straight Summer League win.

Jase Richardson Stars in Return

Richardson wasted little time making his presence felt on the floor.

The former Michigan State standout and No. 25 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft led the Magic with 25 points and four assists in an impressive all-around performance.

Richardson set the tone early with a thunderous dunk after beating Philadelphia first-round pick Labaron Philon Jr. off the dribble in the opening quarter. He scored 17 of his 25 points in the first half while shooting 3 of 5 from 3-point range.

Richardson impacted the game in every facet. He attacked the basket, knocked down perimeter shots, connected on a fadeaway jumper in the second half and consistently created quality looks for teammates, finishing with four assists. Defensively, he was equally effective, recording four steals while applying relentless ball pressure.

His performance caught the attention of former NBA guard Iman Shumpert.

“He might be the only guy with the speed to blow by anybody at any given time,” he stated. “I love his pace, love that he’s getting downhill now, and you can tell he’s more comfortable with the NBA 3-point line.”

Through three Summer League games, Richardson has emerged as one of Orlando’s top performers, averaging 18.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists.

Collective Effort, Multiple Contributors

Richardson wasn’t the only Magic player to make an impact.

Colin Castleton added 14 points, six rebounds and one block, while Noah Penda returned to the lineup with 10 points, six rebounds, six assists and three blocks, including a key rejection during Philadelphia’s fourth-quarter rally. Penda also knocked down 2 of 3 attempts from beyond the arc.

“The guy can guard one through five, and it’s really impressive what he can do at his size,” Richardson said of Penda. “Offensively, he’s gotten a lot better. I think this summer he took a step forward in his game offensively, shooting the 3-ball more confidently, so props to Noah and all the work he’s done.”

Two-way player Alex Morales recorded a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds, while former Golden State Warriors guard Lester Quinones finished with 12 points and four assists.

Orlando shared the ball effectively throughout the game, finishing with 25 assists while consistently playing with pace.

Defensively, the Magic also limited Philadelphia first-round pick Labaron Philon Jr., who finished with 15 points on 7-of-24 shooting, including 1 of 13 from 3-point range.

Dominant First Half Sets the Tone

Orlando controlled the game from the opening tip.

The Magic scored 30 points in the first quarter before taking a commanding 65-37 lead into halftime. Their advantage eventually grew to 30 points early in the second half.

The Magic thrived in transition and forced 20 turnovers, converting them into 23 points.

“I thought the starters did an incredible job of being ready to go,” coach D.J. Bakker said. “They only scored 17 points in the first quarter, so I thought the ball pressure was very, very good, and that allowed us to score 30 in the first quarter. Our defense created our offense, and that’s what you’re looking for.”

Orlando shot 56% from the field compared with Philadelphia’s 44% and finished 50% from 3-point range. The Magic made six of their nine 3-point attempts in the opening quarter.

Philadelphia mounted a late comeback in the fourth quarter, but Orlando’s dominant first half proved to be enough. Penda knocked down two clutch free throws to extend the lead to 96-89 before Quinones sealed the victory with a layup in the final 10 seconds.

Up Next

With the victory, the Magic improved to 3-1 and will await the results of the remaining Summer League games to determine whether they qualify for the four-team playoff bracket.