--The Sixers' 14-4 record in the last 18 games is the NBA's second-best record in the past five-plus weeks. They are three games above .500 for the first time this season.
--The Sixers are five games ahead of last year's pace at the All-Star break. They were 23-30 and had won five in a row going into the break in 2007-08 en route to a 22-12 finish to the season. QUOTE TO NOTE: "It was a game we had to grind it out at the end and win with our defense. We didn't execute down the stretch on defense in a lot of situations in the past, so that was a good sign." -- Coach Tony DiLeo, after Wednesday's 91-87 home victory over the Grizzlies.
