Sixers’ Markelle Fultz hits first preseason three, Ben Simmons yet to attempt one

Fans waiting for the 76ers starting backcourt of Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz to make a three pointer got half of their wish during Monday's 120-114 preseason win over the Orlando Magic at the Wells Fargo Center.

Neither player attempted a three during Friday's opening 104-84 win over Australia's Melbourne United.

In Monday's game, Fultz hit his first three-point attempt. On the fast break, he received a pass from Simmons, took one dribble and sank the corner three with 5 minutes, 8 seconds left in the first quarter.

The entire talk of the offseason and preseason has been of Simmons and Fultz needing to be more proficient from beyond the arc so defenses can't pack it in on their interior players. Neither player hit a three last season.

Fultz's shooting problems last season have been well documented. The No. 1 overall pick of the 2017 draft, Fultz only appeared in 14 regular season games. He missed his only regular season three-point attempt and didn't have any attempts in the three playoff games he appeared in.

Simmons was 0 for 11 from three-point range in the regular season and missed his only attempt in the postseason.

"I am not going to out and shoot threes (for the sake of shooting them)," Simmons said after the game. "Getting to the line and making free throws is something I have been working on too."

Even with defenders backing off Simmons and Fultz, both were able to get to the basket frequently against the Magic.

Simmons suffered a laceration over his right eye in the first half. He received three stitches and returned to the game.

Fultz finished with 12 points, shooting 5 of 12 from the field and 1 of 4 from beyond the arc. Simmons ended with nine points, seven assists and five rebounds in 21:45.

The Sixers departed for China after the game, where they will play their final two preseason games against the Dallas Mavericks on Friday and Monday.

Guard Jerryd Bayless, who suffered a left knee injury during Sunday's practice, won't accompany the 76ers to China. He will be evaluated in approximately three to four weeks.

Earlier the Sixers announced that Wilson Chandler, who suffered a strained left hamstring in the preseason opener and will be reevaluated in two to three weeks, won't be making the China trip.

"He [Bayless] will be staying back with [Chandler]," Sixers coach Brett Brown said. "With that, there are obviously more minutes I have to figure out without [Chandler] and Jerryd."

Before the game it was also announced that rookie center Norvel Pelle wouldn't make the trip to China after suffering from gastroenteritis.

On the Magic, second-year forward Jonathan Isaac suffered a right ankle sprain in the first half and didn't return.