Celtics-76ers Preview

By JEFF MEZYDLO
Posted Mar 23 2012 12:36AM

Philadelphia had a relatively easy time beating a tired Boston Celtics team in the rivals' only previous meeting this season. Based on the way both teams have played of late, the 76ers don't expect things to be nearly as easy this time around.

Looking to bounce back from their latest defeat, the reeling 76ers try to prevent the visiting Celtics from overtaking them for first place in the Atlantic Division on Friday night.

Then riding a five-game winning streak and coming off a 97-92 overtime victory over Houston the previous night, Boston had little energy March 7 at Philadelphia, matching a season low for points and shooting a season-worst 35.0 percent in a 103-71 loss.

"We just didn't have it," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said.

Boston (25-21) trailed the first-place 76ers by three games following a March 11 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers to open a season-high eight-game road trip, but has won four of six since including the last two. Coupled with Philadelphia (26-21) losing three of its last four, that spurt has brought the Celtics within one-half game of the 76ers. Surging New York lurks three games back.

"You've got to look at the division right now. Have to," Philadelphia forward Elton Brand said. "We have to step up, win some games, and find a way to get some separation from New York and Boston."

Despite his team's lopsided win over Boston earlier this month, Philadelphia coach Doug Collins knows the challenge Friday will be much tougher if the 76ers do not improve upon their recent play.

"Anytime you play the Boston Celtics, it's a challenge," said Collins, whose team has averaged 87.2 points over its last five games. "We know they've got a lot of weapons. We're not going to see that same team (Friday) night, that we saw before."

Jrue Holiday scored 16 points while Brand added 12 and 12 rebounds in Wednesday's 82-79 home loss to the Knicks, as the 76ers missed their first 14 shots and finished shooting 38.7 percent.

"We have to do a better job of being a better unit," said All-Star swingman Andre Iguodala, who has averaged 7.7 points - well shy of his 12.2 season mark - on 34.8 percent shooting in the last three games.

Second-year Philadelphia guard Evan Turner had a career-high 26 points versus Boston two weeks ago, beginning a five-game stretch in which he averaged 20.0 points on 60.0 percent shooting. In the last three games, however, Turner has totaled 14 points and gone 6 of 26 from the field (23.1 percent).

Paul Pierce, who had a team-high 16 points at Philadelphia earlier this month, finished with 25 and nine rebounds Thursday in Boston's 100-91 win at Milwaukee. Kevin Garnett added 16 points and 10 boards as the Celtics improved to 9-13 on the road.

"This is a mentally strong group," said Pierce, who has averaged just 11.7 points in his last seven games versus Philadelphia. "We understand it's been a long trip. This is a group that wants to get the next win and make it a great trip."

Boston won a season-high three straight away from home Jan. 22-31.

76ers top Celtics 99-86 as Collins gets 400th win

By DAN GELSTON
Posted Mar 23 2012 11:41PM

PHILADELPHIA (AP) With the division lead at stake, the 76ers dominated like a team that deserved to stay in first.

The Boston Celtics were more concerned about a teammate than the standings.

Elton Brand scored 20 points, and Spencer Hawes had 12 points and 10 rebounds to help Philadelphia keep its grip atop the Atlantic Division with a 99-86 victory over the Celtics on Friday night.

The Celtics would have grabbed first with a win, knocking out a Sixers team that has held that spot for all but a few days this season. The Sixers outscored Boston by 20 points in the third quarter to take control.

There was a serious scare when Celtics guard Mickael Pietrus left on a stretcher and was hospitalized after an awkward collision late in the first half. He was listed as having a questionable closed head injury. Pietrus landed hard on his tailbone and his head nearly smacked the court. He instantly clutched the back of his head with both hands and rolled over on his side.

Coach Doc Rivers said Pietrus had X-rays and an MRI. He had no other information.

The Sixers wore down a Celtics team concerned about its injured teammate and already playing short-handed. Pietrus started in place of Ray Allen, who sat out with a sore left ankle. Guard Avery Bradley also left Boston's eighth straight road game with a sprained left ankle.

"I though the injury, fatigue, everything, kind of all caught up to us," Rivers said.

But it was Pietrus, more than the score, that left the Celtics solemn on the bench. He crashed to the court after he collided with 76ers guard Lou Williams on a drive down the lane, grabbed his head and was down for at least 10 minutes. Trainers from both teams tended to him.

The Celtics circled Pietrus and a couple of players took a knee as the swingman was put on a stretcher and taken out. Several Celtics sat on the bench with their heads bowed.

"It looked awful," Rivers said. "I just saw his neck snap. You knew that was bad. He was throwing up on the floor, so that's not very good either."

His injury sucked the festive atmosphere in the important game right out of the arena. The Celtics were only a half-game behind the 76ers. Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce each scored 20 points. Rajon Rondo had 17 assists.

"We shouldn't lose that way," Pierce said. "It was a huge game for us and we took a step back today."

Williams scored 11 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter. Jrue Holiday had 15 and Andre Iguodala 14 to give coach Doug Collins his 400th career victory. He's the 40th coach in NBA history to hit that total.

"My grandson got up from his nap today, and he was in the bathroom," Collins said, choking back tears, "and (Collins' daughter) heard him in there praying that Pop-Pop could get his 400th win tonight."

The Sixers, who had lost four of five, reverted to their early season form in the third with an absolutely dominant effort. Led by a resurgent Brand, the Sixers used an 11-0 run to take the lead for good. Brand made seven of 10 shots and scored 14 points in the period - he had only three baskets and six points in the first half.

"When we were winning, they didn't need a lot," early this season, Brand said. "I said, when they need me, I'd be prepared. That was a game like tonight. They needed me to step up and I did."

Brand walked off to a loud ovation when he was subbed out late in the quarter. The Sixers shot 65 percent (15 of 23) in the third, the highlight coming on a sweet alley-oop from Iguodala to Williams for a 78-66 lead.

"I can't say enough these Sixers," Eagles QB Michael Vick posted on Twitter.

If the Celtics can't overtake the Sixers, they can point to their last two games in Philadelphia as a key reason. The Sixers thumped the Celtics 103-71 on March 7. The Sixers topped 94 points for only the second time in six games.

"We look forward to meeting them one more time," Iguodala said.

Rondo had 10 assists in the first half and Garnett scored 14 points to help Boston lead 49-43. The Celtics made 10 of their first 15 shots and led by as many as 10 points.

The Sixers got a boost when part-owner Will Smith arrived to a boisterous ovation in the second quarter. He stood on his chair, doffed his 76ers cap toward the crowd and pointed at the fans in his second game this week. With the Fresh Prince cheering them on, the Sixers went on an 8-0 run and tied the game at 38-all.

Smith congratulated Collins on No. 400.

"This is absolutely ridiculous, to be here for Coach, and an owner of my hometown team, and sitting on the floor," Smith said. "We beat Boston. Larry Bird ruined my childhood, so this is fantastic. So Coach, congratulations, and I'm happy to be here."

Notes: Rivers said his son, Austin, has not made a decision yet about leaving Duke for the NBA or returning for his sophomore season. "He's got to make a decision. He leans one way one day, then the other," Rivers said. ... The Sixers are 7-12 after a 20-9 start. ... The Celtics went 4-4 on their road trip. ... Collins has 68 wins with the Sixers.

Notebook: Sixers 99, Celtics 86

Posted Saturday March 24, 2012 12:17AM

By Andy Jasner, for NBA.com

THE FACTS: Elton Brand scored 20 points and led six Philadelphia 76ers in double figures in their resounding 99-86 victory over the Boston Celtics Friday night at the Wells Fargo Center. Lou Williams added 19 points, Jrue Holiday contributed 15 and Andre Iguodala scored 14. After a slow start in which they fell behind by 10, the Sixers rallied and improved to 27-21.

Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett scored 20 points apiece for the Celtics. Brandon Bass had 18 but the Celtics (25-22) had their two-game winning streak snapped.

QUOTABLE: "I have total confidence in my game. When they need me, I'm going to be prepared."
-- Brand on his performance.

THE STAT: The Sixers outrebounded Boston 46-35, including 14-3 on the offensive glass.

TURNING POINT: The Sixers turned a six-point halftime deficit into a 14-point lead following the third quarter. Philadelphia outscored the Celtics 37-17 in the third and completely swayed the momentum in its favor. How? Stingy defense, rebounding on both ends of the court and getting out on the fast break.

HOT: Brand knocked down 10 of his 15 shots with most coming from the perimeter.

NOT: Sixers shooting guard Jodie Meeks was 0-for-6 in 16 minutes off the bench.

QUOTABLE II: "This is the EB we've seen recently that we saw last year."
-- Sixers coach Doug Collins on Brand.

FANTASY SPOTLIGHT: Iguodala filled the stat sheet once again with 14 points, eight assists and six rebounds. He was aggressive from the start and played a solid all-around game. ... Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo was also superb in a losing effort with six points, five rebounds and 17 assists.

INSIDE THE ARENA: It was a late-arriving crowd for Friday's Celtics-76ers battle at the Wells Fargo Center. As the first quarter ended, the building was packed and loud as always for this rivalry. Sixers co-owner Will Smith walked to his front-row seat midway through the second and received a standing ovation.

QUOTABLE III: "Everything is going wrong right now. We have a resilient group, but we keep sustaining injuries."
-- Celtics coach Doc Rivers.

GOOD MOVE: Evan Turner handled the ball quite a bit, giving Holiday more freedom to maneuver on the perimeter. The strategy worked and gave the Sixers' offense the flow it had been missing in recent games.

BAD MOVE: Pierce was hot in the early going and the Celtics inexplicably went away from him at times.

MILESTONE: Collins earned his 400th career victory as an NBA head coach with the Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons, Washington Wizards and the Sixers. He became the 40th coach in league history to reach that milestone and 68 of those wins have come with the Sixers.

INJURY UPDATE: Celtics guard Mickael Pietrus was carted off on a gurney following a hard spill with 5:08 left in the second quarter. He appeared to whiplash his neck after landing hard on his lower back following a collision with Williams. Pietrus was taken in an ambulance to a local hospital where an X-Ray, CT Scan and MRI were being taken. There was no immediate word on Pietrus' condition following the game. After the injury occurred, Pietrus threw up on the court. About 10 minutes later, he was taken off and transported to a hospital. "They're going to hold him overnight," Rivers said. "It looked awful. I just saw his neck snap and he was throwing up. ... It was tough for all of us to see."

ROOKIE WATCH: Boston forward JaJuan Johnson was scoreless but had two blocked shots. Guard E'Twaun Moore scored four points while center Greg Stiemsma had two points and two blocks. For the Sixers, Nikola Vucevic and Lavoy Allen didn't play for the second straight game.

NOTABLE: Celtics guard Ray Allen missed the game with a sore right ankle. ... Holiday, Collins and Boston center Ryan Hollins all received technical fouls in the second quarter. ... Rondo had 10 assists in the first half. ... Spencer Hawes had 12 points and 10 rebounds, his second double-double in the last three games and the eighth of the season. ... Williams scored 11 of his 19 points in the fourth, marking the 10th time he has scored 10 or more in the final quarter this season.

NEXT: For the Celtics, Sunday vs. Washington, Monday @ Charlotte, Wednesday vs. Utah. For the Sixers, Sunday @ San Antonio, Tuesday vs. Cleveland, Friday @ Washington.

• Celtics: Allen, O'Neal
• 76ers: --

• Celtics: Hollins
• 76ers: Collins, Holiday

• Lead Changes: 7
• Times Tied: 3

• Arena: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA
• Officials: #33 Zach Zarba, #42 Eric Lewis, #68 Marat Kogut
• Attendance: 19583
• Duration: 2:25