The Sixers are going to need home to be sweet for them if they plan on finishing fifth in the Eastern Conference. They play their next three games at the Wachovia Center, starting with Atlanta on Tuesday before facing the Bucks (Thursday) and Pistons (Saturday).
The Sixers had seemingly been on a roll at home, winning four in a row, before Friday's lackluster 100-95 loss to the sub-.500 Bobcats. "At this point, we feel like we have to play at a high level every night -- not only against top teams against the league but also in the conference," said swingman Andre Iguodala. "We have to be able to maintain that regardless of what their record is. That is something we have to continue to work at."
Milwaukee probably won't make the playoffs, but Atlanta is the fourth seed -- and would be the Sixers' first-round opponent if they finish No. 5 -- and Detroit is also likely headed for the postseason.
The Pistons came from behind to beat the visiting Sixers 101-97 Sunday night. That dropped the Sixers 1-1/2 games in back of fifth-seeded Atlanta -- and they're only 1-1/2 in front of No. 7 Detroit.
PISTONS 101, SIXERS 97: The Sixers dropped their second in a row by falling to the host Pistons. They allowed Detroit to shoot .528 from the field and were outscored 10-0 during a stretch of 4:53 in the middle of the fourth quarter. The Sixers only had starting center Samuel Dalembert for seven minutes before he left the game and didn't return due to a strained right calf. He is listed as day-to-day.
Andre Iguodala paced the Sixers (37-35) with a game-high 27 points. Thaddeus Young added 22, giving him 20-plus for the seventh straight game, and a game-high eight rebounds. Andre Miller had 13 points and Lou Williams 10.
