Philadelphia 76ers Blog – Page 61 – NBA Blog

Ex-Sixer Lou Williams anxious to face former team

Lou Williams at first tried to downplay his first return tonight to play the 76ers, but the Atlanta Hawks guard then quickly changed gears and admitted that this is not a typical NBA game.

Williams played his first seven years with the Sixers and is in his first season with the Hawks. He is enjoying the same success in the super-sub role.

Last season Williams led the Sixers in scoring, averaging 14.9 points. This season he is averaging 14.3 points for the surprising 15-8 Hawks, who trail first place Miami by two games in the Southeast Division.

“It’s one of those games that will be emotional,” Williams said following this morning’s shootaround at the Wells Fargo Center.

— Reported by Marc Narducci of the Philadelphia Inquirer (Blog)

Injury opens door for Dorell Wright

No one wants injuries to happen – not players, coaches or fans. But when they do, opportunities arise. And while the situation might not be ideal, a door opening is always welcomed.

That has been the case for 76ers swingman Dorell Wright. Point guard Jrue Holiday missed his fourth straight game Wednesday with a sprained foot. In the three games before Wednesday night’s 125-103 loss to the Houston Rockets, Wright had played between 26 and 30 minutes a game, a huge leap from any other time during the season. Against Houston, he had 20 points and six assists in 39 minutes.

It’s no coincidence that his game is coming back to form.

His defense has gotten to where it was at the beginning of the season, when coach Doug Collins could rely on him to cover anyone from small forwards to centers. He has found his shooting touch again, demonstrated Tuesday in Dallas when he hit seven three-pointers and scored a season-high 25.

— Reported by Bob Cooney of the Philadelphia Daily News

Andrew Bynum says knees are improving

Andrew Bynum, out all season with chronically injured knees, said he feels closer to returning to the court for the 76ers.

Bynum will see orthopedic surgeon David Altchek on Thursday, and the Sixers center said he is optimistic.

“I am feeling much better,” Bynum said before Sunday night’s game at the Wells Fargo Center against his former team, the Los Angeles Lakers. “When I see the doctor, hopefully, I will be cleared for impact.”

And Bynum is confident on his impact with his new teammates.

“I think I will do wonders for this team, because now we really don’t have a post threat, and I will help free up a lot of our guys,” Bynum said.

Bynum reiterated that now only his left knee is bothering him. And he said that he is feeling even better than he was last week when he talked to reporters.

— Reported by Marc Narducci of the Philadelphia Inquirer

Kobe scores 34, Lakers beat Sixers

Kobe Bryant scored 34 points, Metta World Peace added 19 points and a career-high 16 rebounds and the Los Angeles Lakers won consecutive games for the first time in nearly a month with a 111-98 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday.

Dwight Howard had 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Lakers, who led 60-50 at halftime. Darius Morris had a career-high 15 points, all in the first half, and Chris Duhon scored 14.

The Lakers (11-14), who beat Washington 102-96 on Friday night, won two in a row for the first time since a three-game streak from Nov. 16-20.

Even without injured stars Steve Nash and Pau Gasol, the Lakers hardly resembled the team which entered the night four games below .500.

Nick Young paced the reeling Sixers (12-12) with 30 points while Spencer Hawes and Evan Turner added 16 apiece. Thaddeus Young had 14 for Philadelphia, which dropped its third straight game for the first time this season.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Andrew Bynum insists he will play for Sixers

Despite a growing belief among 76ers fans that Andrew Bynum, in the last year of his contract, may never play for the team, Bynum does not see that happening.

“No, it never crossed my mind,” said Bynum, seated in front of his locker stall Monday before the Sixers faced Detroit. “It is obviously a possibility, but it really depends on what my doctor tells me. If my left knee gets better and starts to feel like my right knee, I’ll be playing.”

Bynum is scheduled to see his personal orthopedist, David W. Altchek, on Dec. 20 as he recovers from bone bruises and weakened cartilage in both knees. The center has not practiced or played for the Sixers since they acquired him in August.

For Bynum and the Sixers, the next appointment is crucial.

“Worst-case scenario, it’s another month,” Bynum said. “Best-case scenario, I can ramp it up.”

— Reported by John N. Mitchell of the Philadelphia Inquirer

Kevin Garnett had 19 points, no rebounds in Celtics win over Sixers

kevin garnett no rebounds in an nba game

Kevin Garnett couldn’t recall the last time he finished an NBA game without a rebound. And he probably shouldn’t have because it was an NBA generation ago.

Garnett finished Saturday’s 92-79 win over the Philadelphia 76ers with no rebounds in 23 minutes, 26 seconds, the first time in nearly 16 years that he went without a rebound. On Jan. 21, 1997, a 20-year-old Garnett finished with no rebounds in 35 minutes in a 118-106 Timberwolves loss at Toronto.

In that season, Garnett grabbed 10 or more rebounds in a game 17 times and had a season high of 17 rebounds, but for that night, he was empty.

On Saturday night, it was the same situation. He scored a team-high 19 points, on 9-for-11 shooting, even collected a steal and two assists — but no rebounds.

Garnett was in disbelief.

“You know what? I’m looking for the statistician around here, and when I find out what he looks like we’re going to have some problems,” Garnett said, half joking. “I had a rebound in the first quarter. That’s [expletive], that’s [expletive expletive]. I had a rebound in the first half. I think that’s an error and we’re going to fix it.”

— Reported by Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe

Andrew Bynum in lawsuits with neighbors

NBA superstar Andrew Bynum is suing his next door neighbors, claiming they’re violent, racist hooligans — but the neighbors have fired back … claiming Bynum is the REAL a-hole.

Bynum — a former member of the L.A. Lakers — claims that ever since he moved into his fancy home in Westchester, CA more than 7 years ago, he’s been constantly harassed by his neighbors, Ramond and Cindy Beckett.

According to his lawsuit, filed in L.A. County Superior Court, Bynum says … the Becketts have objected to his “profession, his race, his friends, his cars and his taste in music.” …

In their legal docs, the Becketts UNLOAD on the NBA star — claiming he’s guilty of the following misdeeds:

— brandishing FIREARMS in an attempt to intimidate the Becketts
— “apparently” using drugs and allowing weed smoke to drift next door
— blasting loud, profane rap music (including the song “Currency” by Trina)
— blasting his video games at “window-shaking volumes”
— letting his dogs run loose through the neighborhood
— constantly racing his luxury cars at dangerous speeds

— Reported by TMZ.com

Turner, Young lead 76ers past Mavericks 100-98

The 76ers won again with Elton Brand having another strong game and earning a hefty paycheck from the organization.

Brand just couldn’t celebrate because his effort was wasted with Dallas.

Evan Turner scored 22 points and Thaddeus Young had 20 to lead Philadelphia to a 100-98 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night.

Brand scored a season-high 17 points for the Mavericks in his first game against the Sixers since they used their one-time amnesty provision over the summer in the new labor deal to let him go. The move meant the $18.1 million Brand was owed in the final season of his $80 million, five-year contract did not count against the salary cap for Philadelphia, though it still owed him about $16 million…

Jrue Holiday had 18 points and seven assists for the Sixers, who snapped a six-game losing streak to Dallas. Philadelphia shot 6 of 14 on 3-pointers and won its second straight game.

Chris Kaman scored 20 points and Shawn Marion also had 17 for the Mavericks. Vince Carter added 15 and was clutch in the fourth quarter in trying to bring Dallas back from a 10-point hole.

— Reported by Dan Gelston of the Associated Press

J-Rich, Nick Young lead 76ers over Raptors

Nick Young has some game to go with his style and swagger.

Young scored 23 points off the bench, Jason Richardson had six of his 21 points late in the fourth quarter, and the Philadelphia 76ers rallied to beat the Toronto Raptors 106-98 on Tuesday night.

Known for his cool nickname – Swaggy P – and his Afro hairdo, Young is earning recognition for his play on the court, too. He had four assists and three rebounds to go with his 7-for-13 shooting.

”That’s all part of the Swaggy P movement,” Young said with a smile. ”I felt good.” …

Jrue Holiday had 19 points and 12 assists and Thad Young scored 18 to help the Sixers win their third straight game.

DeMar DeRozan had 24 and Andrea Bargnani scored 22 for the Raptors, who are off to a 3-8 start. Jose Calderon, who had a season-high 18 assists in Toronto’s win over Orlando on Sunday night, got 12 more to go with 13 points…

Lowry, who went to nearby Villanova, returned after missing six games with a foot injury.

— Reported by Rob Maaddi of the Associated Press

Andrew Bynum reportedly hurt while bowling

The Philadelphia 76ers fear All-Star center Andrew Bynum might have done additional damage to his knees while bowling, according to sources close to the situation.

Multiple sources told ESPN on Saturday that Bynum suffered an unspecified injury this month while bowling. On Friday, Bynum revealed that — on top of the issues with his right knee that could keep him sidelined until January — he also had suffered a “setback” with his left knee.

“I had a little bit of a setback, and we’re just working through some issues with the right knee,” Bynum said before the Sixers beat the Utah Jazz on Friday night. “I kind of have a mirror thing going on with my left knee. I don’t know what’s going on, but the doctors are saying pretty much that it’s a weakened cartilage state.”

There are several activities that are prohibited in standard NBA player contracts, but bowling is not one of them. Bynum is known to enjoy bowling.

— Reported by Brian Windhorst and Chris Broussard of ESPN.com

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