Nets-76ers Preview

By MATT BEARDMORE
Posted Apr 12 2012 1:05PM

The Philadelphia 76ers got back on track earlier this week with a victory over the New Jersey Nets and now could continue their playoff push with another one.

Philadelphia goes for a third consecutive victory, which would match its longest winning streak of the past two months, as it hosts New Jersey on Friday night.

Having lost four straight to drop into a tie with New York for seventh place in the Eastern Conference, the 76ers ended New Jersey's season-high three-game home winning streak Tuesday with a 107-88 victory.

Philadelphia's 62 bench points in that contest included 20 from Lou Williams and 19 apiece from Thaddeus Young and center Spencer Hawes, who was a reserve for the first time this season.

"This was a team that was a desperate team," Nets coach Avery Johnson said after his team was eliminated from playoff contention for a fifth straight season. "They are in a major playoff fight."

The 76ers (31-27) are one game ahead of the Knicks and three in front of ninth-place Milwaukee. Philadelphia has lost the season series to New York and its series against the Bucks will be decided April 25 in Milwaukee.

"We're fighting for our playoff lives," forward Elton Brand said.

If the 76ers are going to win that fight, they'll likely have to get the job done on the road, where they'll play six of their final eight games. Before visiting Orlando on Monday and closing its home schedule Tuesday against Indiana, Philadelphia is looking to build momentum from its 2-1 trip.

"The world was falling on us when we lost four in a row," Brand said Wednesday after a 93-75 victory over Toronto. "Now we win two, we're right back to feeling good about ourselves."

The 76ers have blown the Atlantic Division lead by going 13-20 since Feb. 7. The only time they won more than two straight in that span was a three-game run March 7-11.

They have a chance to match that streak Friday as they go for a 10th win in 11 meetings with the Nets (21-38). New Jersey had dropped eight in a row in this series and four straight at Philadelphia before winning 97-90 in overtime in its last visit Jan. 25.

Deron Williams had 34 points and 11 assists in that contest but was held to 14 and five, respectively, on Tuesday against the Sixers. The Nets have been idle since that game.

"We want to play the spoiler," Williams said. "It didn't happen today, but we still have them two more times."

The Nets, who host the 76ers on April 23, might not have Gerald Wallace (strained left hamstring) for a second consecutive game, but Kris Humphries could cause plenty of problems for the 76ers' front line.

Humphries is averaging 16.5 points and 14.5 rebounds versus Philadelphia in 2011-12 after scoring 20 with 10 boards Tuesday for his fifth double-double in six games.

Hawes (Achilles) and new starting center Nikola Vucevic (knee) did not play the last time the Nets were in town.

Green, Brooks help Nets top 76ers 95-89

By DAN GELSTON
Posted Apr 14 2012 12:05AM

PHILADELPHIA (AP) The 76ers took a long tumble from the top of the Atlantic Division to eighth place in the East.

They have to hope the wins start coming in bunches again.

Because if the losses keep piling up, not only will a 20-9 start be wasted, the Sixers will miss the playoffs.

Gerald Green scored 23 points, and Kris Humphries had 18 points and 13 rebounds to lead New Jersey to a 95-89 win over Philadelphia on Friday night, three nights after the Sixers thumped the Nets by 19 points.

Philadelphia snapped a two-game winning streak and suffered a big blow in its push up the Eastern Conference standings. The 76ers fell to eighth with the loss and New York's win, and play six of their final seven games on the road. This was a game they could not afford to lose.

The Sixers have not won three straight games since March 7-11.

"Wow," coach Doug Collins said. "I did not see that coming, the way we played the last couple of games."

The Nets again felt at home on the road and outscored the Sixers 32-23 in the fourth quarter. Deron Williams had 11 points and 10 assists, MarShon Brooks scored 22 points and Jordan Williams had 13. New Jersey's 13 road wins are four more than they have at home. The Nets have won seven of 11.

"No feeling sorry for ourselves tonight," New Jersey coach Avery Johnson said. "We played hard. We were locked into this game at shootaround."

Jrue Holiday led the Sixers with 19 points, Evan Turner had 18 and Thaddeus Young 13. The Sixers (31-28) hold a two-game lead over the Milwaukee Bucks (29-30) for the final playoff spot in the East. The Knicks also are 31-28, but hold the tiebreaker for seventh.

"We're going to have to step up as a team and not fear it," forward Elton Brand said. "This is an exciting time. Let's keep playing, let's keep getting it together."

For a team with so much at stake, the Sixers slogged out the first three quarters, missing a flurry of shots in the paint. In front of one of the thinnest crowds of the season, the Sixers lacked energy and again struggled to get to the free-throw line. They're playing without the cohesion and team-first attitude that carried them to the fast start. For example, Brand had the hot hand early with eight points in the first - and didn't score again.

"We can't play around with a team and not have a sense of urgency with a team down 10 points when we're playing for playoff positioning and they're not," Brand said.

The Sixers were 11 1/2-point favorites, yet trailed 66-63 entering the fourth.

The Nets were content to take over from there. Green buried three 3-pointers and Brooks hit a backbreaker late in the game to squash Philadelphia's comeback bid.

In a game with 17 ties, Williams completed a three-point play with 4:11 left to give the Nets an 83-80 lead. But again the Nets failed to hang on to the lead and it looked like the Sixers might have the feel-good win they badly needed.

New Jersey wouldn't let it happen. Green buried a 3 with 1:41 left and a 90-85 lead. Brooks hit the last of New Jersey's six 3-pointers to finish off the Sixers.

"I've been thinking a little too much the last couple of weeks, not making shots and everything," Brooks said. "D. Williams has been talking to me about it. He's like, `Just shoot the ball. If you miss it, you miss it."'

Good advice. Brooks was 9 of 15 from the floor.

Both teams shot 34 of 81 from the floor. The free throws were almost identical - Philly was 20 of 27; New Jersey 21 of 27. The difference came beyond the arc, where the Sixers missed nine of 10 3s. Andre Iguodala and Jodie Meeks each went 0 for 3.

"I'm just at a loss, I really am," Collins said.

Even with playoffs out of reach, the Nets are hardly a team with no direction: They're heading to New York. The NBA's Board of Governors unanimously approved the relocation of the Nets to Brooklyn on Friday.

"I know we're all looking forward to being a part of Brooklyn and being a part of that project," Johnson said. "I think it's going to help. We're the only team that's in transition like we are. There's a lot of energy and anticipation of us moving there."

NOTES: Will Smith, who owns a stake in the 76ers, was at the game. ... Collins, a former broadcaster, will call basketball games for NBC during the Olympics. Collins was part of the 1972 U.S. Olympic men's basketball team that was denied a gold medal following a hotly debated finish against the Soviet Union. Collins declined to say if Olympians should be paid. "Regardless of whether they're paid or not, I know they're going over for one thing, and that's to win," he said.

Notebook: Nets 95, Sixers 89

Posted Friday April 13, 2012 10:40PM

By Andy Jasner, for NBA.com

THE FACTS: Gerald Green scored 23 points, MarShon Brooks contributed 22 points and the New Jersey Nets defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 95-89 Friday night at the Wells Fargo Center. Kris Humphries also had 18 points and 13 rebounds for the Nets (22-38), who won in Philadelphia for the second time this season.

Jrue Holiday led the Sixers (31-28) with 19 points while Evan Turner had 18. The Sixers had their two-game winning streak snapped.

QUOTABLE: "It's definitely a positive move for the future."
-- Nets forward Jordan Williams, who had 13 points.

THE STAT: The Sixers were 1-for-10 from beyond the arc along with an uncharacteristic 16 turnovers.

TURNING POINT: With the game tied at 85, the Nets scored five straight points, including a clutch 3-pointer by Green for a 90-85 advantage.

HOT: Brooks (9-for-15) and Green (8-for-13) carried the Nets on this night.

NOT: Jodie Meeks missed all five shots while Spencer Hawes was 1-for-7 for the Sixers.

QUOTABLE II: "I played well and made some shots. Scoring is a bonus. I've just got to play with more energy. Scoring will come."
-- Brooks.

FANTASY SPOTLIGHT: Deron Williams had 11 points, 10 assists, five rebounds and four steals for the Nets. Even though Williams shot 4-for-14, he controlled the tempo and led this young team to a 13th road win.

INSIDE THE ARENA: There wasn't a whole lot of buzz in the arena for the second-to-last home game. But that all changed when the fans noticed Sixers part-owner Will Smith shortly after halftime.

QUOTABLE III: "We're fighting for our lives now. That's a huge loss. It's hard to figure out."
-- Sixers head coach Doug Collins.

GOOD MOVE: The Nets gave Green extended minutes and he rewarded them with a stellar night. When the game got tight in the fourth quarter, he made a number of big shots. Green was also terrific on the defensive end.

BAD MOVE: Iguodala needs to be more aggressive and look for his shot. He was far too passive for long stints while deferring to his teammates. It has been an issue all season.

ROOKIE WATCH: Brooks scored 22 points while forward Williams had 13 for the Nets. For the Sixers, Nikola Vucevic started at center and had two points and five rebounds. Forward Lavoy Allen didn't play.

NOTABLE: The Sixers have lost 11 of their last 18 home games after opening 12-2 at the Wells Fargo Center. ... Nets forward Gerald Wallace missed the game with a strained left hamstring. ... Brooks received a technical foul with 3:23 left in regulation. ... The Sixers are 6-20 this season when allowing 90 or more points. ... Green has eclipsed 20 points in seven of the last 19 games. ... Williams registered his 21st double-double this season. ... Philadelphia committed five turnovers in the first quarter after having five the entire game in Wednesday's win at Toronto. ... The Nets have won seven of their last 11. ... Over the last four games, the Sixers are 10-for-48 from 3-point territory. ... There were 11 lead changes and 17 ties, the most in any Sixers game this season. ... In the previous five games, Turner was averaging just 5.6 points per game.

UP NEXT: For the Nets, Saturday vs. Boston, Monday vs. Miami, Wednesday vs. New York. For the Sixers, Monday @ Orlando, Tuesday vs. Indiana, Wednesday @ Cleveland.

• Nets: James, Lopez
• 76ers: --

• Nets: Brooks
• 76ers: --

• Lead Changes: 11
• Times Tied: 17

• Arena: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA
• Officials: #20 Leroy Richardson, #38 Michael Smith, #33 Zach Zarba
• Attendance: 19169
• Duration: 2:16