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Sports

Harris' jumper at buzzer lifts Magic past 76ers

Dan Gelston - The Philippine Star

PHILADELPHIA -- Kyle O'Quinn needed permission in the locker room to break Orlando's no-Twitter rule until 45 minutes after the game.

This was a time the rule needed bending.

With approval granted, O'Quinn went to work on his mobile device, trying to appropriately express his feelings in 140 characters. The Orlando forward tweeted: ''Good team win fellas!!!! Let's build on that! Good shot (at)tobias31 !!!!!!!!!''

More like a great one for the Magic.

Tobias Harris sank a jumper at the buzzer to give the Magic their first victory of the season, 91-89 over the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night.

Nik Vucevic scored 17 points and Channing Frye had 13 points and 11 rebounds for Orlando. Harris had 18 points and eight rebounds to help the Magic snap a season-opening, four-game losing streak.

It helped they played the Sixers, now 0-5 for the first time since the 2001-02 season. Tony Wroten scored 27 points and Brandon Davies had 20 to give the Sixers two 20-point scorers in a game for the first time this season.

Henry Sims gave the Sixers a momentary glimmer of hope when he swished the tying bucket from the top of the key with 4.6 seconds left.

Harris dashed it in a hurry when he buried a fallaway at the horn for the thrilling win.

''It was just good to come out and get a win today,'' Harris said. ''I think moments like that really show the extra time and work I put in. It was good to make that shot and just overall great to get that victory.''

Close or not, the Sixers still ended up with the L.

''It highlights to our young guys there is no margin for error,'' coach Brett Brown said.

As in most of their first four games, the Sixers kept the score close for most of the first three quarters, but didn't have enough in the fourth.

The question remains, when will the Sixers win? They play their third home game of the week Friday against Chicago. Then games against Toronto, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio mean it could be late in the month before their next legitimate shot against Boston.

Sixers rookie Nerlens Noel, who sat out all of last season recovering from a torn ACL, left the game with a sprained left ankle. Noel scored four points and had two rebounds in 16 minutes.

Noel said he had no idea when he was hurt or how much time he might miss.

''I'm just going to come to practice tomorrow and see how it feels,'' Noel said. ''I'm just going to get some rehab going.''

The Sixers did it again with the nifty dunks, this time when Wroten lobbed one to K.J. McDaniels for the one-handed slam over helpless Maurice Harkless. McDaniels sank a free throw for the three-point play and a 42-41 lead in the second.

But neither team could pull away from the other, an expected tight one between two of the worst teams in the NBA.

The Sixers will get a rare dose of good news Thursday when NBA Rookie of the Year Michael Carter-Williams returns to practice. He'll participate in a full practice for the first time this season following surgery in May to repair the labrum of his right shoulder.

Carter-Williams was only the third player since 1950-51 to lead all rookies in scoring (16.7), rebounding (6.3) and assists (6.2), joining Oscar Robertson (1960-61) and Alvan Adams (1975-76). Allen Iverson is the only other player in Sixers history to win the rookie award.

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TIP-INS

76ers: With Carter-Williams set to return, Wroten could move from point to shooting guard. Wroten entered averaging a team-high 19.3 points. ''We're both big guards that can rebound and kick out fast,'' Wroten said. ''We're looking forward to it and we're excited to see Mike come back.''

Magic: Orlando coach Jacque Vaughn broke into coaching in San Antonio where he was on the staff with Brown. ''He was a guy that you knew loved the game,'' Vaughn said. ''He had different roles. Sometimes it was being jovial with a group and keeping them even-keel. At the same time, he had great knowledge and kept pushing our group to try different things.'' ... Vucevic was involved in one of the worst trades in Sixers history when he was sent to the Magic as part of a four-team deal that netted Philly Andrew Bynum. Bynum never played for the Sixers.

BUY A BUCKET: The Sixers have yet to score more than 96 points in a game after they finished last in the NBA in scoring (93.2) for the first time in franchise history.

FOR STARTERS: The Sixers started 3-0 last season. They finished with 19 wins, but the small spurt was enough to cost them the worst record in the NBA and best shot at the No. 1 overall draft pick.

UP NEXT

76ers: Host Chicago on Friday.

Magic: Host Minnesota on Friday.

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ALLEN IVERSON

ALVAN ADAMS

BRANDON DAVIES

BRETT BROWN

CHANNING FRYE

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