The Sixers come back from their five-game West Coast trip to face the Timberwolves on Wednesday night. They flew home overnight Monday following their game in Portland and had Tuesday off before taking on Minnesota.
In NBA circles, the first game at home in this situation is regarded as difficult because it all but acts as a sixth game of the trip. While the players get to sleep in their own beds for a change, it also marks the sixth game in six cities. "There's nothing we can do about it," said coach Tony DiLeo. "That's our schedule."
The Sixers can only hope they handle their return home from a five-game road trip better than the Trail Blazers did in losing to the Sixers on Monday. Philly is 20-14 at the Wachovia Center, where they've won their last three.
The game begins a stretch of 13 games -- seven of which are at the Wachovia Center -- in 21 days to close out the season. Four of the Sixers' next five are at home. They are trying to catch the Heat, who they trail by 1-1/2 games, for fifth place in the Eastern Conference.
SIXERS 114, TRAIL BLAZERS 108 (OT): The Sixers completed their five-game West Coast trip with a 3-2 record by beating Portland, which is 28-7 at home, in overtime. The Sixers shot .514 from the field, made an uncharacteristic .897 of their free throws and limited the Blazers to 10-for-34 shooting (.294) on three-pointers.
Andre Miller paced the Sixers (36-33) with 27 points, while Andre Iguodala added 25. Thaddeus Young (25) reached 20 for the fourth straight game, marking the first time he's done that as a pro.
