When the Sixers host the Orlando Magic on Friday Night, De'Anthony Melton will be good to go and hopefully take on more of a workload than he did in his return to the court on Tuesday night. .

Melton was questionable coming into Tuesday with a lingering back issue and hadn't appeared in a game since February 27th, but returned to shoot 2-of-9 from the field, notching five points, three rebounds, three assists, two steals, and one 3-pointer in 16 minutes.

Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said on Thursday that Melton's back felt fine, and that they'll look to extend his minutes in Friday's game against the Magic.

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"He said he feels fine, said Nurse.  He's not doing cartwheels and stuff up and down the court, but he's fine."

Its a big game for the Sixers as 97.3 ESPN Sixers insider Austin Krell points out, if the Sixers win the game on Friday against Orlando and Sunday against the Nets, they will move out of the NBA Play-In Tournament and likely grab the sixth seed.

Getting Melton back gives the Sixers even more depth at the guard position that already has with Tyrese Maxey, Kyle Lowry, Buddy Hield, and Cam Payne. Nurse will have a challenge to figure out how to mix and match these guys come playoff time.

The Sixers trail the Magic and Pacers by just one game entering Friday’s matchup, with Philadelphia currently holding down the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference at 45-35 and Orlando sitting in the No. 5 spot and Indiana is No. 6 at 46-34.

You can listen to the Sixers and Magic on Friday night at 7pm on 97.3 ESPN.

Top Ten Philly Athletes Age 25 or Younger

Philadelphia has some great young athletes right now, from NFL MVP Runner-up Jalen Hurts to NL Gold Glove Award Finalist Bryson Stott to 30 Points Per Game Scorer Tyrese Maxey.  In honor of the Philly Sports teams Youth Movement, here are my rankings of the top ten Philadelphia Professional Athletes who are 25 years old or younger:

Gallery Credit: Josh Hennig/Townsquare Media

 

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