Joel Embiid and Paul George struggled in the game, with neither player performing well in the second half as the Sixers stalled.

McCain was also solid defensively on Magic guard Jalen Suggs, who went 1 for 8 from three-point range. The Sixers clearly knew that Orlando had the NBA’s worst three-point shooting percentage (30.6 percent ahead of Friday’s game). They made few obvious game plan-related mistakes on defense and forced 18 Magic turnovers.

McCain's second stint of action came at point guard, and the Sixers surged. The Sixers went on a 14-0 run between the final moments of the first quarter and the first few minutes of the second quarter, and 10 of their points during that stretch came with McCain at point guard alongside Eric Gordon, Oubre, Yabusele and Embiid.

Jared McCain exploded for a career performance on Wednesday against the Cavaliers and joined some elite company in history afterward.

Jared McCain dropped 29 points but fouled out and Joel Embiid and Paul George still didn’t look in rhythm as the Sixers fell to the Magic Friday.