Orlando ends Philly’s playoff hopes

Darko Milicic scored 14 points with seven boards and Hedo Turkoglu added 13 points and seven rebounds for the Magic, who have won three of their last four games. Grant Hill had 11 points and Jameer Nelson finished with 10 in the win.

Orlando finished 53 percent shooting from the field.

Andre Miller netted 18 points and pulled down eight boards for the Sixers, who had a three-game winning streak halted and have been officially eliminated from playoff contention. Andre Iguodala, Kyle Korver and Louis Williams each chipped in 14 points in defeat.

Philadelphia shot 39 percent from the floor.

Orlando led by as many as 12 in the first quarter on a pair of Keyon Dooling free throws, while Joe Smith’s fadeaway cut Philadelphia’s deficit to 35-25 heading into the second.

The Magic continued to lead by double digits and Howard’s alley oop dunk capped the frame to make it a 61-48 game at the break.

It was much of the same in the third as Orlando opened the quarter with a 9-0 spurt — led by Nelson’s five points — for a 70-48 advantage. Howard’s layup then sent the Magic into the fourth with an 82-66 cushion.

The Sixers failed to mount any threat in the final frame.

Game Notes

Steven Hunter had 11 points for Philadelphia...Orlando returns home to host the Boston Celtics on Sunday, while the Sixers visit the Detroit Pistons...The Magic have won four of the last five contests in the series.