76ers' Dalembert returns from ...
Dalembert returns from trip to...
Trail Blazers 98, 76ers 90...
Trail Blazers-76ers, Box...
Blazers' Roy leaves with hamst...
Kings G Evans letting reps dea...
Wolves' Love, Thunder's Collis...
Trail Blazers' Miller says Six...
NBA Roundup: Friday's action...
ROSTER REPORT 2010-01-20...
Sixers to sign Donyell Marshal...
Sixers sign Donyell Marshall...
Sixers hire Jeff Ruland as ass...
Web viewing of NBA games may s...
Jason Smith medical update...
Steve
Steve
Steve
Steve
Steve
Steve
Steve
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
 
 
Add to Google
Add to My Yahoo!
Subscribe in NewsGator Online
Add to Windows Live
News » Dalembert, Sixers win without Brand 2009-02-06


Dalembert, Sixers win without Brand 2009-02-06


Dalembert, Sixers win without Brand 2009-02-06
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Now that Elton Brand is out for the season, Andre Miller and Andre Iguodala are ready to take charge of Philadelphia's playoff push.

Securing a victory with defensive stops down the stretch instead of enduring a massive fourth-quarter meltdown is a nice first step.

NBA roundup


Saturday's action

  • Clippers rock Hawks
  • Big 4th leads Sixers over Heat
  • Nets thump Nuggets
  • Mayo, Grizz top Raptors
  • Mavs edge Bulls in OT
  • Rockets handle Timberwolves
  • Pistons outlast Bucks

FOXSports.com analysis

  • Hench: NBA back to its Glory Days
  • Goodman: Lakers erase Boston demons
  • Rosen: Answering your NBA questions
  • Galinsky: NBA Power Rankings

Video

  • LeBron talks about his Garden party
  • Hill: What Kobe must do now
  • NBA stars on Black History Month

Photos

  • Celtics, Lakers battle in Boston
  • Eastern Conference All-Stars
  • Western Conference All-Stars

Samuel Dalembert had 18 points and 20 rebounds, and Miller and Iguodala also had double-doubles to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a 99-94 win over the Indiana Pacers on Thursday night.

"We really needed that game," coach Tony DiLeo said.

The Sixers needed any kind of lift after a disastrous week that included losing in two of the most agonizing ways any team can lose. The big blow came hours before the game: Brand - their five-year, $80 million power forward - will have season-ending surgery on his right shoulder Monday.

"We have to rally around each other and go out there and pick up our play on both ends of the floor," said guard Willie Green, who had 23 points.

More games like this one will help. All five starters reached double-digits in scoring by the fourth quarter and Philadelphia held off the pesky Pacers to avoid a third straight fourth-quarter collapse.

Miller had 13 points and 12 assists, while Iguodala had 20 points and 11 assists to help the Sixers snap a two-game losing streak.

"We can make it work, we just have to make it work," Iguodala said. "It's as simple as that."

The Sixers wanted a strong showing on their seven-game homestand to throw them in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race. They opened with a win, then lost in two of the most agonizing ways any team can lose. They missed their final 18 shots from the floor and coughed up a fourth-quarter lead in a loss against New Jersey. Then they led the entire fourth against the NBA-best Celtics until Ray Allen won it with a 3-pointer with five-tenths of a second left.

Philadelphia nearly blew it again against Indiana.

The Sixers opened the fourth with an 11-point lead and watched it quickly whittle away. Troy Murphy scored on a driving layup and Mike Dunleavy followed with a 3-pointer to pull Indiana within two.

Dalembert, though, went up strong under the basket for a basket and Miller added a layup to make it a six-point game and give the Sixers some breathing room down the stretch. The often-erratic Dalembert abused Indiana down low and was only two rebounds shy of his career high.

The Pacers were miserable in coach Jim O'Brien's 3-point happy offense. They missed a whopping 21 of 34 attempts - a brutal number considering two more makes would have given them the win.

Dunleavy led the Pacers with 21 points, and Danny Granger and Jarret Jack each scored 18 as Indiana dropped its third straight. Murphy had 15 points and 14 assists.

Granger, though, made only shot from the floor in the second half and said his nagging knee injury was a factor. He felt sore and said he might not play Friday against Orlando.

"We know that we need these games and if we keep losing, I know that I can't be taking games off," Granger said.

Dalembert was on from the opening tip. All the Sixers needed out of him with Brand around was for him to block shots and rebound. Now they really need Dalembert to score and he delivered a bruising 6-for-13 effort from the floor and 6-for-6 from the free-throw line.

"I think that (scoring) will be a big bonus for us," DiLeo said.

Thaddeus Young has blossomed while starting at power forward in Brand's absence. Philadelphia hopes rookie Marreese Speights and veteran Reggie Evans can fill some of those minutes at the four spot.

Speights was scoreless in 7 minutes, but wasn't really needed.

"We have guys that can come in and help us, but we have to play defense because that is what's going to help us win games," Green said.

Dalembert had 14 defensive rebounds - or as many as the other starting four combined. With Miller and Iguodala leading the way, the Sixers had 26 assists on 34 baskets.

Granger scored 11 points in only 1:05 to cap a stunning 21-2 run that put Indiana ahead by nine in the second quarter. The Sixers came right back at the end of the half with a 12-2 run to slice the deficit to 56-54 at the break.

Notes: The Sixers improved to 11-8 this season without Brand. ... O'Brien was whistled for a technical foul in the fourth. ... The 76ers are 15-10 since DiLeo replaced Maurice Cheeks. ... The Sixers don't play on the road again until Feb. 17 at Indiana. ... The Sixers' last game with three players recording double-doubles? Against Indiana on Nov. 14.


Author: Fox Sports
Author's Website: http://www.foxsports.com
Added: February 6, 2009

 

 
Copyright © SixersDaily.com, Inc. All rights reserved 2012.