NBA week 5 recap: Struggling favorites, Magic ball movement and more

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(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Please give us Philly vs. Charlotte in April

The Nov. 17 chapter of this season series made last week’s games to watch, and once again, these two teams did not disappoint. The Philadelphia 76ers and Charlotte Hornets have met three times this season, with the 76ers claiming all three victories. But each one has been arguably a top-five game of the year so far.

Their first meeting on Oct. 27 finished 105-103 with Kemba Walker’s 37 points falling short to Joel Embiid’s 27 points. In their second meeting, Philly won again on Nov. 9, this time in overtime 133-132 after Charlotte came back from a 15-point halftime deficit, with Kemba (30 points) and Embiid (42 points) dueling once again.

The Nov. 17 contest was the best one yet. Kemba dropped 60 points in a losing effort as Philly won in overtime, 122-119. Jimmy Butler made a block on Kemba to keep the score tied, saved the block from falling out of bounds and proceeded to hit the game-winning 3-pointer to give the 76ers the win.

Each game has been amazing with no team having an answer for each other’s star players. Even if Philly is the heavy favorite, this would arguably be the most exciting first round series in the playoffs if it occurred, especially if Kemba continues playing like a top-five point guard (he followed the 60-point game with 43 points in a win over the Boston Celtics) and Embiid maintains his MVP-level.