The Sixers are headed out for one final Western Conference swing. The trip contains five games in seven days -- the Lakers Tuesday, Suns Wednesday, Warriors Friday, Kings next Sunday and Trail Blazers March 23.
"It's tough, but it's the NBA," said Sixers head coach Tony DiLeo. "Hopefully we'll be in a good rhythm and playing good basketball, so we'll want to play almost every day." The stretch is especially important for the Sixers because they're two games out of the fifth Eastern Conference playoff position with 18 games remaining. They go into it having won three in a row.
"Whoever did the schedule for us wasn't on our side," said swingman Andre Iguodala. "We have a back-to-back (at the beginning) and another back-to-back at the end. We have to be ready to go out there and play at a high level -- just try to steal some games."
Guard Andre Miller said it's essential that the Sixers get "three or more" on the five-game jaunt.
"There are games we can go out there and win," Miller said. "We're going down the stretch of the season. We need this."
SIXERS 85, HEAT 77: The Sixers won all three games on their homestand to move two above .500. They passed the Pistons for sixth in the Eastern Conference and moved within two games of No. 5 Miami. Deep reserve Donyell Marshall was a difference-maker, hitting three fourth-quarter three-pointers to help the Sixers outscore the Heat 24-9 in the period. He had 10 points in fewer than 11 minutes.
Andre Iguodala led the Sixers (33-31) with a game-high 21 points. Thaddeus Young added 17 and Andre Miller contributed 10 points and 11 assists.
