The AP reports: Andre Iguodala scored a season-high 29 points, and Lou Williams had 14 to lead Philadelphia to its fifth straight victory, 100-79 over Portland on Wednesday night. Iguodala made four of Philadelphia’s season-high 11 3-pointers and just missed becoming the first Sixers player to score 30 points in a game this season… Thaddeus Young made three 3s and finished with 11 points, and Andre Miller scored 12 points. Brandon Roy led Portland with 27 points, and LaMarcus Aldridge had 15 points and nine rebounds. Portland was without Rudy Fernandez (foot), and coach Nate McMillan said the rookie will likely miss Thursday night’s game in New Jersey. Steve Blake left in the first half because of a separated right shoulder.
Category: Philadelphia 76ers Blog
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Elton Brand returns to practice
The Philadelphia Inquirer (Kate Fagan) reports (via blog): During Monday’s practice at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM), injured forward Elton Brand hit the practice floor and participated in contact half-court drills. Brand did not look to be favoring his left arm or shoulder, but he did say afterwards that “It’s not 100 percent, I can feel that, but it’s pretty good.” Brand scrimmaged in a half-court setting, but did not go full court. He said he plans to go full during tomorrow’s practice… “Wednesday might be out, but I’ll be practicing tomorrow,” Brand said. He, and coach Tony DiLeo, said they would consult the medical staff and determine when Brand will be back in the lineup. But it looks to be very soon.
76ers rule the paint in 109-94 win over Hawks
The AP reports: Andre Iguodala took advantage of the absence of Al Horford to score 27 points, and Philadelphia dominated near the basket to beat the Atlanta Hawks 109-94 on Sunday. The 76ers, who have their first four-game winning streak of the season, scored 56 points in the paint and had a combined 49 points by their starting forwards. Thaddeus Young added 22 points and nine rebounds for Philadelphia. “It seems like we’re getting it together a little bit,” said 76ers guard Andre Miller, who had 19 points… Joe Johnson, who led the Hawks with 25 points, refused to blame the loss on Horford’s injury… Mike Bibby had 22 points.
Al Horford bone bruise
Atlanta Hawks center Al Horford will miss this afternoon’s contest against the Philadelphia 76ers with a bone bruise to his right knee. He is out indefinitely and will not travel with the team on their West Coast trip (Phoenix, LA Clippers and Golden State).
Horford this season is averaging 10.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.6 blocks on 51.7% shooting in 32.9 minutes per game.
LeBron takes active scoring lead from Iverson
The Rocky Mountain News (Chris Tomasson) reports (via blog): After more than four years, Allen Iverson finally has been toppled from his throne. With the Detroit guard scoring just 11 points Saturday night at Utah, he relinquished the career active scoring average lead he had held since early in the 2004-05 season. The NBA’s active career scoring average is now Cleveland forward LeBron James, averaging 27.36 points per game. Iverson’s average dropped Saturday to 27.35. Early in the 2004-05 season, Iverson, then with Philadelphia, seized the active scoring average lead from Shaquille O’Neal, then with Miami. O’Neal had taken it over after Michael Jordan, the all-time leader, retired following the 2002-03 season.
76ers win third straight game, beat Bobcats
The AP reports: The Philadelphia 76ers are running again, their scoring is up and they’re ascending the Eastern Conference standings. Andre Miller had 22 points and six assists, Thaddeus Young scored 15 points and the Sixers won their third straight, 93-87 over the Charlotte Bobcats on Friday night. The Sixers have rapidly put a 1-5 trip behind them and won their third game this week to get out of last place in the Atlantic Division and into the Eastern Conference playoff race… Andre Iguodala and Lou Williams each scored 12 points and the Sixers had the fast-break edge, 20-4… Emeka Okafor had 24 points and 11 rebounds for the Bobcats.
Sixers set three-point goal
The Philadelphia 76ers are awful at hitting three-pointers. They’re currently tied with the Washington Wizards for the lowest three-point shooting percentage in the league at 30.3%. There are probably fans in the stands who have never touched a basketball that, on a good day, might be able to match that.
OK, not really.
Still, the Sixers brick from outside, and their coach is taking what little action he can.
The Philadelphia Inquirer (Kate Fagan) reports:
After Tuesday’s win over the Houston Rockets, 76ers interim coach Tony DiLeo said he set a three-point goal for each game. DiLeo would not share that goal, saying he wanted to keep it within the locker room. His team, though, was unaware of the information’s classified nature. Before last night’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks, players spoke. “Make at least five a game,” Lou Williams said. “That goal is out there; he gave it to us last night.” The Sixers guard continued: “We have guys that are comfortable with that shot, but we’re more comfortable making plays to the rim. It’s our Achilles’ heel.”
Chances are, little will change. Andre Miller, Andre Iguodala and Louis Williams are lousy from outside. And that’s partially why Elton Brand hasn’t fit in as well as hoped, because he draws attention inside, but defenders can sag off the outside shooters more than they can against other teams.
The Sixers will simply have to work around this, somehow. Or make roster changes.
Miller scores 28 to lift 76ers over Bucks 110-105
The AP reports: Michael Redd had no idea what Andre Miller was about to do. Miller wasn’t sure, either. Miller opted for a 3-pointer over Redd with 28 seconds left to finish with 28 points, and the Philadelphia 76ers held on for a rare road win Wednesday night, 110-105 over the Milwaukee Bucks… After Milwaukee’s Richard Jefferson, who finished with 27 points, added a layup, Andre Iguodala made one of two free throws with 17 seconds to play and Charlie Bell missed an off-balance 3 with seconds to play that would’ve tied it… The Bucks again played without center Andrew Bogut, who missed his third straight game because of back spasms.
Back home, 76ers top Rockets, stop losing streak
The AP reports: Andre Iguodala tied his season high with 28 points and the reeling 76ers returned home from a dreadful road trip to beat the Houston Rockets 104-96 on Tuesday night… Iguodala nailed a 3-pointer in front of the Rockets bench late in the fourth to halt Houston’s 11-2 run that had sliced the gap to six. He sank a runner in the lane for a 98-92 lead that dashed Houston’s last-gasp at a comeback win. He shot 12-of-19 from the floor… Luis Scola led six Rockets in double figures with 18 points and grabbed 17 rebounds… Tracy McGrady, Yao Ming, Von Wafer and Carl Landry all scored 14 points for the Rockets.
Parker’s shot lifts Spurs over Sixers, 108-106
The AP reports: Tony Parker hit a high-arching 15-footer at the buzzer and the San Antonio Spurs beat the Philadelphia 76ers 108-106 on Saturday night after blowing an early 21-point lead. Parker finished with 15 points and 10 assists to help the Spurs win for seventh time in eight games and rebound from a 100-98 loss Tuesday night to Milwaukee. Tim Duncan led San Antonio with 26 points on 11-of-15 shooting. Andre Miller led Philadelphia with 28 points on 12-of-14 shooting. Andre Iguodala added 25 on 10-of-15 shooting as both teams shot more than 50 percent.