Magic 101, 76ers 90

PHILADELPHIA — Veteran guard Jameer Nelson scored 12 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter Wednesday night as the Orlando Magic beat the Philadelphia 76ers 101-90 to snap a 16-game road losing streak.

Center Nikola Vucevic, an ex-Sixer, had 21 points and 13 rebounds to pace the Magic (18-42), who improved to 4-27 on the road. Their 16-game skid was a franchise single-season record.

Guard Victor Oladipo added 17 points and 11 rebounds for Orlando.

Forward Thaddeus Young had 19 points and guard Tony Wroten 15 to lead the Sixers (15-43), who lost their 12th straight. It was also their 11th straight defeat at home. They finished the month of February 0-11, their first winless month of four games or more since they went 0-13 in March 1973. That was the final month of their 9-73 season.

In a game featuring the teams with the NBA’s second- and third-worst records, Nelson, a native of nearby Chester and product of Saint Joseph’s University, made five of his nine shots in the fourth quarter, after going 2 of 7 in the first three. He also handed out four of his 12 assists in the final period.

Nelson snapped a 67-67 tie when he nailed a 3-pointer from the top of the circle 20 seconds into the fourth quarter. He added a jumper, a layup and another triple over the next 4:18 as Orlando outscored Philadelphia 21-10 to take an 88-77 lead with 7:22 left.

Guard E’Twaun Moore and forward Andrew Nicholson also hit 3-pointers in that run — the latter after Nelson found him in the right corner — and guard Doron Lamb sank three free throws while attempting another triple.

The Sixers closed within six, at 92-86, on Young’s fast-break conversion with 4:12 remaining, but Oladipo nailed a 3-pointer and jumper as Orlando rattled off the next seven points to go up 99-86.

The lead changed hands 13 times during a dismal first half. The Sixers shot 34.7 percent but nonetheless established a 44-40 lead, largely because the Magic made just 33.3 percent of its attempts. It was the first time Philadelphia had led after two quarters since a Feb. 7 loss to the Lakers.

Young scored 10 points in the half for the Sixers, who outscored the Magic 12-4 over a five-minute stretch late in the second quarter to move in front.

Two of the players acquired at least week’s trade deadline were also effective. Center Henry Sims, making his first start for Philadelphia, had eight points and six rebounds, and backup point guard Eric Maynor contributed six points, three rebounds and a pair of assists.

Vucevic generated 13 points and seven rebounds in the half for Orlando.

The Sixers extended their lead to eight early in the second half, only to see the Magic storm back behind Vucevic. He had a dunk, a layup, a tip-in and a block of Michael Carter-Williams’ dunk attempt as Orlando outscored Philadelphia 25-10 to take a 67-60 lead with 2:22 left in the third quarter.

The Sixers then rattled off the period’s last seven points — on Maynor’s 3-pointer, a dunk by forward Byron Mullens and Wroten’s two free throws — to tie it.

NOTES: The Sixers bought out the contract of F Danny Granger, acquired last week in a trade from Indiana. “Given Danny’s future goals and his desire to pursue them, we worked to fulfill his requests and have come to a resolution that we feel is mutually beneficial to both Danny and our organization,” general manager Sam Hinkie said in a statement. Added coach Brett Brown: “We wish him well. We worked with him. We talked a lot about treating people the way people should be treated — respecting his situation, listening to him and still running a business. Sam was able to do both of those things.” According to Yahoo Sports, the Los Angeles Clippers are the front-runners to sign Granger when he clears waivers on Friday. San Antonio, Miami, Houston, Dallas and Chicago also have interest. … Orlando G Arron Afflalo, the Magic’s leading scorer at 19.7 points a night, missed his third straight game with a sprained right ankle. Afflalo notched a career-high 43 points in a 126-125 double-overtime loss to Philadelphia on Dec. 3.