The plan was for Elton Brand to play five-minute spurts in his first game back after missing 16 with a dislocated right shoulder. He ended up logging 13 minutes in three stretches ranging from 1:32 to 6:55 during Saturday's 116-110 home victory over the Knicks.
Brand had six points on 3-for-4 shooting, to go along with three rebounds, two blocks, three fouls and an assist. He also drew a charge on New York's Tim Thomas early in the fourth quarter. "I feel very comfortable," Brand said. "I got three or four shots in the flow. I'm just trying to rebound and block shots."
The Sixers (21-21) are trying to push the ball at every opportunity, which helped them win seven of the last eight games without Brand. It's up to Brand to run the floor, which he tried to do Saturday. They didn't run any plays for him, either, which was by design.
"He still needs time to get his rhythm, to get his game legs," Sixers coach Tony DiLeo said. "He needs time to play with the other guys on the court. It was good to just get him out there."
The most interesting aspect of all this could be who goes to the bench once Brand returns to the starting lineup in a week or so. Thaddeus Young, who has been starting in Brand's spot, could move back to small forward with Andre Iguodala switching to shooting guard, or Young could come off the bench with Willie Green continuing to start at the "two" position.
SIXERS 116, KNICKS 110: The Sixers improved to 8-1 in their last nine by downing the visiting Knicks. They held a 41-33 rebounding advantage, led by Samuel Dalembert's game-high 17 boards, and made more free throws (26) than New York attempted (22). The Knicks outscored the Sixers 45-18 from the 3-point arc, though Philly blocked eight shots to New York's none.
Andre Iguodala led six Sixers in double figures with 24 points. Andre Miller added 21 and Thaddeus Young chipped in 17. Dalembert also contributed 10 points and three blocks.
