PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 01: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers guards Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic during the first quarter of the preseason game at Wells Fargo Center on October 1, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

The Orlando Magic got their feet wet in their first preseason game. They showed plenty to be pleased with and plenty more to work on.

Orlando Magic 114 Philadelphia 76ers 120

There were moments when it looked exactly like the first preseason game. The Philadelphia 76ers raced out to a 12-2 lead and led virtually wire to wire. The Orlando Magic had a few boneheaded turnovers and wayward shots. The team needed to get its legs under them.

Then there were the moments that truly shined. The moments to hold onto and point to as a sign of growth.

Jonathan Isaac got a deflection on his first two possessions and again proved a major presence defensively. Aaron Gordon settled for mid-range jumpers again, sure, but had moments of shot-making brilliance and feats of incredible athleticism. Mohamed Bamba displayed what his length and newfound shooting range can do. The team strung together some solid defensive stretches to get themselves back into the game.

It all adds up to. . . the first preseason game. A game where there is not a whole lot to take out of except for the fact the team got its feet wet. The growth can happen from here with something that is not quite a baseline for the team.

The 76ers won a wire-to-wire 120-114 preseason victory at Wells Fargo Center on Monday. That part did not matter.

What mattered was to see the team slowly get organized and play more effectively and efficiently as the game and the nerves wore off. The team shot 49 percent from the floor and committed a relatively meager 12 turnovers. The team was not sloppy, although there were plenty of moments of clear rust.

Orlando struggled to keep up physically at times and gave up far too many offensive rebounds. That is certainly going to make Steve Clifford a bit unhappy. But the Magic got better as the game wore on. Philadelphia beat Orlando still with Joel Embiid pacing the team throughout. The Magic still have a lot of details to get down.

But Orlando has plenty of time to get those down. The team saw plenty of positive signs to be happy about throughout the first preseason game. And plenty to still get to work on.

AARON GORDON F, Orlando Magic B Aaron Gordon has a lot of focus and attention on him after signing his new contract. And he did some admirable work in scoring 10 points, grabbing seven rebounds and dishing out four assists. He shot 4 for 9 from the floor. He displayed exactly why the Magic have a lot of hope in his game’s growth and why there are still concerns. His best play came early in the game. He blocked a shot and started leaking out. He received the outlet pass, spun past his defender and then fed Nikola Vucevic for an easy lay-in. Gordon added a tip-in dunk for good measure later on and he finished the second quarter with an acrobatic reverse layup around Joel Embiid. It was impressive. Gordon hit plenty of tough shots. But he still found himself settling for mid-range jumpers, often taking a step in or settling for the jumper when he could drive. Then there were the three turnovers as he tried to overdribble. These were fair criticisms of him throughout last season. But it is also the first preseason game, so it is no sign for alarm.

NIKOLA VUCEVIC C, Orlando Magic B- Nikola Vucevic eventually led the Orlando Magic in scoring with 20 points. He has always has a knack for scoring and he did it in multiple ways. He finished the game with 9-for-17 shooting and missed all three of his 3-pointers. Vucevic still showed plenty of skill on the block. He was smart with his shot fakes and finishing around the basket. He rarely gets stuck and Vucevic is extremely reliable on that end. Defensively? He struggled to defend Joel Embiid as almost anyone would. Embiid seemed willing to out-physical Vucevic and Vucevic did not have much interest in going back at him. It was the first preseason game, after all. But it felt like more of the same from Vucevic — for both good and bad.

TERRENCE ROSS G/F, Orlando Magic A It has been a long time since Terrence Ross could play a NBA game without any fear of injury or worrying about rehab. He looked free and ready to play. All the anxiety to get out on the floor finally came out. He was on the floor and playing really really well. Terrence Ross certainly stood out throughout the entire game, finishing with 13 points on 5-for-9 shooting. He added three steals to boot. He did everything he has always done at his best. He took mid-range jumpers and drained 3-pointers. And Ross stood in the passing lanes and made good defensive plays (for the most part, J.J. Redick got away from him once). It was a big moment for Ross. His entry into the game seemed to turn the Magic around and bring them the energy they needed. That is exactly what the Magic want from him.

ISAIAH BRISCOE G, Orlando Magic A- The first preseason game is as much for the surprises and the guys who look surprisingly good when the bench players come in a the end of the game. Every team wants to find some diamonds in the rough. Monday night was Isaiah Briscoe‘s night to surprise and intrigue. He looked like everything advertised from Summer League. He was a hard driver who could get to the basket and finish around the rim. He quickly scored 11 points in eight minutes, making 5 of 8 shots. Isaiah Briscoe is someone a lot of people have thought could challenge for the backup point guard spot. He certainly continued to intrigue as he dominated the third unit players. He may be worth exploring in real minutes as the preseason continues.

PHILADELPHIA 76ERS 2-0, 1st East A- The Philadelphia 76ers certainly looked more put together and ready to play than the Orlando Magic. That is a product of their talent and continuity. That is two things the Magic are still struggling to put together. Orlando needs more time, Philadelphia is much more ready to go. That was evident in the way Joel Embiid just dominated whatever center the Magic threw at him. He scored 21 points and scored however he wanted on the block. More importantly, Markelle Fultz looked really strong, hitting a few outside jumpers. Philadelphia had the aggressive play the team needed, shooting more than 30 free throws in the game. It was a preseason game for the Magic’s defense. The 76ers had some rust to work out evidenced by their turnovers. But the team looked solid and certainly got what they wanted out of the game.

The Orlando Magic return home for their open practice Tuesday at the Amway Center. They next play Brazilian team Flamengo on Friday at the Amway Center.