Nets-76ers Preview

By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN
Posted Jan 24 2012 1:44PM

The Philadelphia 76ers are eager to continue taking advantage of a homestand that begins against some of the NBA's worst teams.

They'll try to improve to 9-1 at home Wednesday night by defeating the New Jersey Nets for the ninth straight time.

Philadelphia (12-5) began this seven-game homestand with Monday's 103-83 win over league-worst Washington. The next three opponents for the 76ers are New Jersey (5-13), Charlotte and Detroit.

Coach Doug Collins challenged veterans Elton Brand and Andre Iguodala to prepare the team for this stretch of games.

"You have to call on your veteran guys and I did," Collins said. "I talked to the guys about how important it is for you guys to come out and set the tone (with) what we have to do.

"We have a seven-game homestand here and this is going to be so important to where we're heading. And now we've got Jersey on Wednesday."

Brand shook off a stomach virus for 17 points and nine rebounds Monday while Jrue Holiday also scored 17 for a 76ers team that built a 30-point halftime lead despite playing without starting center Spencer Hawes (left Achilles' strain) and forward Nikola Vucevic (quadriceps strain).

"It's a lot of fun playing with these guys," Brand said. "It's a fun team to play on."

Philadelphia's eight-game win streak over New Jersey is the longest by either team in this series. Brand, Holiday and Louis Williams all averaged at least 14.0 points while shooting 51.5 percent or better in last season's four-game sweep.

All of those games came with the Nets having Brook Lopez available, but Deron Williams played in only one of those matchups. Lopez is currently out with a right foot injury, while Williams is leading the Nets after being acquired Feb. 23.

The Nets had two other starters out Monday in a 110-95 loss at Chicago in their third game in as many days. Damion James has missed the last 11 contests due to a foot injury, and New Jersey got a surprise when rookie MarShon Brooks was scratched before tip-off with a sore left Achilles' tendon.

Coach Avery Johnson was forced into using his 10th different lineup, with Anthony Morrow scoring 15 points in Brooks' place.

"Just when we get excited about having the same lineup, a guy goes out 20 minutes before the game," Johnson said. "It's just something that we're dealing with. It's something that I have to manage."

The Nets are averaging just 91.8 points, and have been particularly poor in getting off to slow starts by averaging 20.1 in the first quarter.

Philadelphia, meanwhile, is brimming with confidence after matching a season high with 30 assists Monday. Iguodala handed out a season-best 11 and three other Sixers had at least four.

"I'm all about connecting," Collins said. "I think connecting plays are what really makes a team special."

The 76ers are passing the ball well while averaging a league-low 11.6 turnovers thanks to quality ballhandling from the likes of Iguodala, Williams and Evan Turner.

"We're trying to win every game and take advantage of everything and take advantage of that home court," Turner said.

Deron Williams, Humphries lead Nets past 76ers

By ROB MAADDI
Posted Jan 25 2012 10:39PM

PHILADELPHIA (AP) Deron Williams had a reason to love this one.

Williams scored 34 points, including a go-ahead 3-pointer with 26.8 seconds left in overtime, to help lift the New Jersey Nets to a 97-90 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night.

Kris Humphries had 13 points and a season-high 19 rebounds, and Jordan Farmer added 12 points as the Nets (6-13) snapped an eight-game losing streak against the Sixers. Anthony Morrow had 16 points starting his second straight game for rookie MarShon Brooks (sore right Achilles tendon).

"Our new team motto is, `I love it,"' Williams said. "It started off sarcastic, but now we use it for everything. I had five turnovers, but I love it."

Beating the first-place Sixers sure put Williams and his teammates in a festive mood.

"I love it," several players shouted in the locker room.

Lou Williams led Philadelphia with 17 points. The Atlantic Division-leading Sixers (12-6) again played without starting center Spencer Hawes (left Achilles strain) and his backup, rookie Nik Vucevic (left knee quad strain).

Jrue Holiday stole Farmer's inbound pass and scored on a driving layup to give the Sixers a 90-88 lead with 1:18 left in OT. But Deron Williams answered with a jumper to tie it. After Jodie Meeks missed at the opposite end, Williams nailed a long 3. Lou Williams missed a 3 for the Sixers and Morrow sank a pair of free throws to seal it.

"At the end of the game, we basically put the ball in Deron's hands and said, `Take us home,' and he did," Nets coach Avery Johnson said.

Jeered vociferously by the crowd, Humphries had one of his best all-around games. Humphries has been booed wherever the Nets play since his marriage to reality TV star Kim Kardashian ended after 72 days.

"It's motivation, man," Humphries said.

Holiday hit a 3-pointer from the left corner to give the Sixers a 78-77 lead with 2:29 left. Neither team made a basket over the next 1:20 until Morrow hit a 3 to put the Nets up 80-78. Elton Brand answered with a short jumper to tie it at 80. Farmer missed at the other end and Young made a diving save to gather the rebound.

After the timeout, Lou Williams nailed an 18-footer over Deron Williams to put the Sixers up 82-80. But Deron Williams tied it with a slashing layup through three defenders with 1.3 to go to send it to overtime.

The Sixers have come a long way under second-year coach Doug Collins. Last season, they started 3-13 before a strong finish put them at 41-41 and sent them to the playoffs only to lose to Miami in five games.

Despite this loss, they seem headed toward their first winning season since 2004-05 when Allen Iverson was the star.

"They outplayed us in every phase," Collins said.

New Jersey used a 13-2 run to take a 59-51 lead in the third quarter. Humphries got things started for the Nets with consecutive dunks. Deron Williams made two jumpers in a row during the run. The Sixers went 6:11 without a basket in that stretch, missing several open jumpers during an 0-for-7 drought.

Shawne Williams made a rainbow 3-pointer from a few feet inside halfcourt before the third-quarter buzzer sounded, giving the Nets a 66-61 lead.

Both teams looked lackluster at the start. Without their two big men, the Sixers didn't have an answer for Humphries. He had six points and five rebounds in the first quarter and grabbed six more boards in the second.

The Nets took a 29-20 lead after a 14-4 run that stretched from late in the first quarter into the second. Morrow hit a 3-pointer and a jumper toward the end of the run.

But the Sixers scored the next 11 points. Thaddeus Young hit a jumper and scored on a driving layup to give Philadelphia a 31-29 lead. The teams traded baskets the rest of the quarter and the Sixers took a 45-43 lead into halftime.

"Their record doesn't show what they're capable of doing," Philadelphia's Andre Iguodala said.

Notes: The Sixers are two games into a seven-game homestand. They are 8-2 at the Wells Fargo Center, their best home start since opening 10-0 in 2002-03. ... The Nets have only led after three quarters four times, going 4-0. ... Hawes has missed five straight games. Vucevic has sat out two in a row. ... Deron Williams had 11 assists. ... Eagles coach Andy Reid watched from a suite. Reid hasn't spoken to reporters since Philadelphia's final game on Jan. 1.

Notebook: Nets 97, Sixers 90

By Andy Jasner, for NBA.com
Posted Wednesday January 25, 2012 10:46PM

THE FACTS: Deron Williams scored 34 points to go along with 11 assists in leading the New Jersey Nets to a rare road victory, 97-90 in overtime over the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night at the Wells Fargo Center. Kris Humphries had 13 points and a season-high 19 rebounds for the Nets, who improved to 6-13 and just 4-8 on the road. Anthony Morrow also scored 16 points for the Nets.

Lou Williams led the Sixers with 17 points while Elton Brand added 16 points. The Sixers (12-6) fell to 8-2 at home and had their eight-game winning streak snapped against the Nets. Jrue Holiday also scored 14 points for the Sixers, who are 1-1 on this seven-game homestand.

QUOTABLE: "At the end of the game, we basically put the ball in Deron's hands and said, 'Take us home.'"
-- Nets coach Avery Johnson, on Williams' 3-pointer with 26.8 seconds left in overtime to snap a 90-all tie.

THE STAT: The Nets outrebounded Philadelphia, 45-37. Not many teams have outhustled the Sixers this season.

TURNING POINT: With the game tied at 90 in overtime, Williams hit that clutch 3-pointer and the Nets went on to score the final seven points.

HOT: Williams was 14-for-28 from the field and made some difficult shots down the stretch and in overtime.

NOT: Sixers guard Evan Turner missed seven of his 10 shots.

QUOTABLE II: "It starts with the most basic thing and that's getting back on defense. We did that."
--.Humphries, on how the Nets were able to secure a road win.

FANTASY SPOTLIGHT: Williams was terrific in every aspect for the Nets with 34 points, 11 assists and four rebounds.

INSIDE THE ARENA: A late-arriving crowd showed up for the Nets-76ers game Wednesday night at the Wells Fargo Center. By the end, there was a nice showing of 13,138 for the upstart Sixers. Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid watched the game from a luxury suite.

QUOTABLE III: "Deron Williams, to say the least, was absolutely sensational."
-- Sixers coach Doug Collins.

GOOD MOVE: The Nets kept running their offense through Williams, especially in overtime. The savvy veteran point guard came up huge, including the above-mentioned clinching 3-pointer for a 93-90 advantage with 26.8 seconds left in overtime.

BAD MOVE: The Sixers didn't do enough to get the ball out of Williams' hands. They could have done more to force other Nets to score.

ROOKIE WATCH: Nets swingman MarShon Brooks missed the game with a sore left Achilles. Sixers forward Nikola Vucevic was out for the second straight game with a left knee quad strain. Philadelphia forward Lavoy Allen, who had his best game of the season with 10 points against the Washington Wizards Monday night, scored six points in 17 minutes.

NOTABLE: Brand fouled out with 4:21 left in overtime. ... The Sixers are 0-2 in overtime this season. ... The Nets connected on 12 3-pointers, the most given up by the Sixers this season. ... Spencer Hawes (left Achilles strain) missed his fifth straight game. ... Since scoring 100 or more points in four of the first five games, the Sixers have gotten to 100 just five times over the past 13 games.

NEXT: For the Nets, Friday @ Cleveland, Sunday vs. Toronto, Tuesday @ Indiana. For the Sixers, Friday vs. Charlotte, Saturday vs. Detroit, Monday vs. Orlando.

• Nets: James, Lopez, Williams
• 76ers: --

• Nets: --
• 76ers: --

• Lead Changes: 20
• Times Tied: 12

• Arena: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA
• Officials: #17 Joe Crawford, #30 John Goble, #60 James Williams
• Attendance: 13138
• Duration: 2:34