Cavaliers-76ers Preview

By MATT BEARDMORE
Posted Mar 26 2012 1:46PM

The Philadelphia 76ers haven't been playing particularly well lately. Having Andre Iguodala back in the lineup could help change that.

Iguodala may return from injury when the host 76ers go for a fourth consecutive victory over the slumping Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night.

Since an 18-7 start pushed it out to a four-game lead in the Atlantic Division, Philadelphia (27-22) has lost 15 of 24 and finds itself in a tight battle with Boston for the top spot.

The 76ers have one of the deepest teams in the league with eight players averaging at least 8.2 points. However, Iguodala's all-around game was sorely missed as they lost for the fifth time in seven games Sunday, 93-76 at San Antonio.

With the All-Star forward missing his first game of the season due to left patella tendinitis, Philadelphia managed 27 second-half points and committed a season-worst 21 turnovers.

The 76ers give the ball away a league-low 11.0 times per game.

"We missed 'Dre (Iguodala) because he's another ballhandler," coach Doug Collins told the league's official website. "We were very careless, and that's unlike us."

That's nothing new for the Cavaliers (17-29), who have averaged 18.3 turnovers during their three-game skid. Cleveland had 22 in a 108-83 loss to Phoenix on Sunday.

"We're not a very good team right now," said coach Byron Scott, whose team fell behind 12-0 and lost for the sixth time in seven games.

While the Cavs have hit a rough patch following a season-best three-game win streak March 7-11, it could have gotten much worse Sunday with Antawn Jamison leaving with a bruised left leg and ankle. The veteran forward returned in the second quarter, though, and should be available Tuesday.

Jamison, averaging 18.0 points and 6.6 rebounds, led Cleveland with 20 points in its lone meeting with the 76ers this season, a 99-84 home loss Feb. 11.

Sixers point guard Jrue Holiday scored a team-best 20 points and handed out five assists in that contest, though he didn't face Cavs star Kyrie Irving due to a concussion.

The rookie point guard has enjoyed an outstanding first season, averaging 18.8 points with 5.6 assists, but he and rookie big man Tristan Thompson struggled defensively against the pick and roll Sunday. Suns center Marcin Gortat scored the first 10 points, while point guard Steve Nash finished with 13 assists.

"There's a lack of energy and we're not together out there," Irving said. "... I feel confident that we will figure it out. We're looking forward to playing a good Philly team and hopefully we bring it."

Thompson has averaged 14.0 points and 8.2 rebounds while starting the last five games in place of Anderson Varejao, sidelined the last 21 games with a broken right wrist.

Sixers center Spencer Hawes should make a sixth straight start after missing 28 of the previous 31 games, including the Feb. 11 contest, with a strained left Achilles.

Hawes had 10 points and 12 rebounds while Thaddeus Young added 26 points and 11 boards as Philadelphia won 117-97 in the Cavaliers' last visit Dec. 7, 2010.

Cleveland had won five straight in this series and eight in a row in Philadelphia, with LeBron James in the Cavs lineup for six of those.

76ers romp in 103-85 win over Cavaliers

By DAN GELSTON
Posted Mar 27 2012 10:54PM

PHILADELPHIA (AP) As Rod Thorn waited outside Cleveland's locker room for coach Byron Scott to finish addressing his team, the Sixers general manager had a good idea what was being said in the postgame speech: How could the Cavs let recently-benched Sixers guard Jodie Meeks get a career-high 31 points?

"I don't think anyone in the building expected Jodie to go for 31," Thorn said. "But he played great tonight, didn't he? Darned near broke the game open himself. But I tell you what. We'll take that every night the rest of the way.

"Every night."

In a division race as tight as the Atlantic, they might need it.

Meeks scored a career-high 31 points and Jrue Holiday had 19 to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a 103-85 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night.

The Sixers romped without forward Andre Iguodala, who missed his second straight game because of left patella tendinitis. Meeks started in his place and made the most of his opportunity, making 7 of 10 3-pointers. Meeks was the second Sixer this season to reach the 30-point mark and his seven 3s were as many as he hit combined over the past six games.

"I just know I was open," Meeks said. "I was relaxed and just shot. I haven't been shooting as well. But I just tried to take good shots. Any time a shooter sees the ball go in the hole, it gives him confidence."

Evan Turner scored 12 points for the Sixers, who moved a half-game ahead of Boston and back into sole possession of first place in the Atlantic Division. The Sixers have held the top spot in the Atlantic for all but a few days early in the season.

"We're in the fire right now, but that's where we want to be," coach Doug Collins said. "I'd rather be in the fire than be on the outside looking in."

Thorn hired Scott in New Jersey and the two of them - with a little help from Jason Kidd - went to two NBA finals in 2002 and 2003. Thorn eventually gave up on waiting for Scott, and just walked into the locker room, on his own, to see him. But, before he did, he knew what Scott was feeling.

"Man, he must be (upset)," Thorn said.

Anthony Parker scored 14 points and Kyrie Irving had 12 for the Cavaliers, who dropped their fourth straight.

"Guys have lost some confidence," Scott said.

The Sixers made 3 of 5 free throws - a low for a team that is averaging only 17.7 attempts this season.

The Sixers were one of the early season surprises in the NBA when they rolled to a 20-9 start. But a tougher schedule, injuries to center Spencer Hawes, and trying to win big without a superstar caught up with the Sixers and they hit a rough patch.

The Sixers have gone 8-14 since that start but never lost their grip on first - or fourth place in the East. Had the Sixers lost to Cleveland, they would have tumbled to seventh in the conference standings.

Even without Iguodala, their top perimeter defender, the outcome was never in doubt Tuesday.

The Cavs scored the game's first five points before Meeks got hot from 3-point range and led the Sixers on a 12-0 run. He scored 12 points in the first quarter, Holiday took over in the second (4 of 6 shooting for eight points), and the Sixers led 57-43 at halftime.

Meeks started the first 38 games of the season before Collins benched him with the Sixers in a 2-8 funk. Meeks had started 102 straight games when Collins decided to give Turner, the 2010 No. 2 overall draft pick, a turn in the backcourt. Meeks was scuffling from 3-point range at the time of his benching, but he had that long-range stroke going against the Cavs.

"He comes in, he's always ready," Collins said. "He's got a motor. A lot of guys, it's hard to do."

Meeks' sixth 3-pointer topped his previous career best of 26 points and stretched the lead to 96-78. With Meeks leading the way, the Sixers made 10 of 19 3-pointers.

The Cavaliers had another uninspired effort in another season headed toward the draft lottery. After the Cavs were flat in a loss to Phoenix on Sunday, Scott ran them harder in practice on Monday than he had since training camp.

It didn't matter, not with the way Meeks was hurting them from outside.

"There is a lack of communication, yes," Irving said. "We are lacking that right now, for sure, and it's just a matter of learning from that. We know what we have to do for 40 minutes, and it's just a matter of doing it. We have to stay optimistic, we cannot get down on ourselves. We have to keep fighting through times like these."

Notes: Cavaliers G Daniel Gibson has a torn tendon in his left foot and ankle and will likely miss the remainder of the season. ... The Sixers are 13-2 when they score 100 points. ... The Sixers have held the opposition below 100 points in 19 of the past 20 games. ... Holiday scored 30 points against the Bulls on March 17.

Notebook: Sixers 103, Cavaliers 85

Posted Tuesday March 27, 2012 10:43PM

By Andy Jasner, for NBA.com

THE FACTS: Jodie Meeks scored a career-high 31 points and the Philadelphia 76ers moved a half-game ahead of the Boston Celtics for first place in the Atlantic Division with a 103-85 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers Tuesday night at the Wells Fargo Center. The Sixers (28-22) also received a strong performance from point guard Jrue Holiday (19 points, six assists). Five players scored in double figures and the Sixers improved to 18-10 at home.

Anthony Parker paced the Cavaliers (17-30) with 14 points. Antawn Jamison and Alonzo Gee had 13 each but Cleveland dropped its fourth in a row.

QUOTABLE: "When he's getting shots, usually it means we're in a good offensive rhythm."
-- Sixers coach Doug Collins on Meeks.

THE STAT: The Sixers committed 11 turnovers, which Cleveland converted into only three points.

TURNING POINT: The Sixers led 57-43 at halftime and maintained that 14-point advantage after the third quarter. At times this season, the Sixers have allowed the opponent to climb back in the game. Not this time. They held a steady double-digit lead and cruised to the victory.

HOT: Meeks knocked down 11 of his 16 shots, including 7-for-10 from 3-point territory. He was in a good rhythm the whole night.

NOT: Irving misfired on nine of his 13 shots while Jamison shot 5-for-14 for the Cavaliers.

QUOTABLE II: "Your confidence soars when shots are going in, sure. I felt good early and my teammates kept looking for me. I kept knocking them down."
-- Meeks.

FANTASY SPOTLIGHT: Lou Williams had arguably his best all-around game this season with 11 points, seven assists and seven rebounds.

INSIDE THE ARENA: There was a lively crowd of 17,832 for Tuesday's game at the Wells Fargo Center. The Sixers honored the Temple University men's basketball team at midcourt during the first half. Temple advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the fifth straight season.

QUOTABLE III: "It's a continuing learning process for all of us. We're just continuing to get better."
-- Irving on the struggling Cavaliers.

GOOD MOVE: Evan Turner handled the ball a lot once again, allowing Holiday to freelance on the perimeter. Holiday seemed to thrive in that type of offense.

BAD MOVE: Irving settled for too many jumpers instead of driving to the basket and looking for the open man.

ROOKIE WATCH: Irving had 12 points, seven assists and four rebounds for the Cavaliers. Forward Tristan Thompson had nine points and six rebounds while guard Donald Sloan had two points and three assists. For the Sixers, Nikola Vucevic and Lavoy Allen were each scoreless in limited minutes down the stretch.

NOTABLE: Andre Iguodala missed his second consecutive game for the Sixers with patella tendinitis in his left knee. ... The Sixers won by 18 despite attempting just five free throws all night. ... The Sixers were 10-for-19 from beyond the arc. ... Fifteen of Cleveland's losses this season have been by 10 or more points. ... Spencer Hawes had 10 points for Philadelphia. When Hawes scores in double figures, the Sixers are now 10-3.

NEXT: For the Cavaliers, Wednesday vs. Detroit, Friday vs. Milwaukee, Saturday @ New York. For the Sixers, Friday @ Washington, Saturday vs. Atlanta, Tuesday @ Miami.

• Cavaliers: Harangody, Varejao
• 76ers: --

• Cavaliers: --
• 76ers: --

• Lead Changes: 1
• Times Tied: 1

• Arena: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA
• Officials: #25 Tony Brothers, #71 Rodney Mott, #60 James Williams
• Attendance: 17832
• Duration: 2:06