Clippers-76ers Preview

By JUSTIN EINHORN
Posted Feb 09 2012 3:20PM

The end of a brutal stretch for the Philadelphia 76ers is finally here.

The Los Angeles Clippers have only just begun their future minus Chauncey Billups.

Following a poor first game since losing their veteran leader, the Clippers look to bounce back Friday night by handing the 76ers a second straight home loss to a first-place team.

This matchup marks the finale of what coach Doug Collins termed as 'Death Row,' a seven-game span in which Philadelphia played four of the Eastern Conference's top six teams, two of the West's division leaders and the Los Angeles Lakers.

The 76ers (18-8), who next play sub-.500 squads Cleveland and Charlotte, have impressed during this stretch with a 4-2 mark despite losing 100-90 to Southwest Division-leading San Antonio on Wednesday.

It was the first time in 10 games Philadelphia let a team reach 100 points, including 37 to Tony Parker - the most by any player against the Sixers this season.

"We have to be more alert," swingman Andre Iguodala said. "We have to keep aware of guys who can hurt us and try and not let them get good looks."

Philadelphia, giving up 87.2 points per game to rank among the league leaders, is 0-5 when allowing 100 or more and now meets one of the NBA's highest-scoring teams (99.0 ppg) as the Clippers continue a six-game trip.

Los Angeles (15-8) played Wednesday for the first time since Billups suffered a season-ending Achilles injury, facing a Cavaliers team which had lost eight of 11. The game was tied at halftime before the Clippers were outscored 17-4 to open the third quarter, and they came back to tie it in the fourth only to lose 99-92.

"We came out with a lack of energy," said Blake Griffin, who fouled out with 25 points and 15 rebounds. "That's on us. We had no urgency. We didn't play like we should."

One reason that happened could have been the absence of Billups, who was averaging 15.0 points and is the team's oldest player at 35. Randy Foye scored 15 points starting in his place.

Chris Paul had 16 points and 12 assists but shot 5 of 16 from the field.

"Everybody has to step up," Paul said. "There's not one person that can fill a void that big. Everybody is going to have to do a little bit more and it definitely starts with me and Blake."

The Clippers had won six of seven before Wednesday. The only time the Pacific Division leaders dropped back-to-back games was Dec. 28-30.

That hasn't happened once to the Sixers this season, and Elton Brand will look to prevent it against his former team. He returned Wednesday after missing two games with a sprained thumb, posting 11 points and 13 rebounds.

Brand has faced the Clippers five times since leaving via free agency, averaging 16.4 points and 7.0 boards. His best game against them in a Philadelphia uniform came in the last meeting, when he had 19 points and 12 rebounds in a 104-94 road victory March 16. He helped hold Griffin to 14 points and 3-of-12 shooting.

Another veteran forward was back on the floor Wednesday as Kenyon Martin made his Clippers debut with six points and four rebounds in 21 minutes.

Jrue Holiday averaged 22.0 points in the Sixers' two-game sweep of the Clippers last season. Teammate Spencer Hawes added 14.0 points and 9.0 boards per game, but it's unclear if the center will play after sitting out Wednesday with an Achilles problem.

Paul lifts Clippers over Sixers 78-77

Posted Feb 10 2012 10:40PM

PHILADELPHIA (AP) With some help from Blake Griffin, Chris Paul came up huge when the Los Angeles Clippers needed it most.

Paul had 24 points, including the game-winning 17-footer with 3.2 seconds left, Griffin added 16 points and 11 rebounds and the Clippers defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 78-77 on Friday.

On the Clippers' final possession, Paul sent a pass to Griffin, but the ball bounced through his legs. Griffin went on the floor, passed back to Paul, who somehow scored over the outstretched arm of Philadelphia's Andre Iguodala who is one of the best defenders in the league.

"That almost turned out to be ugly," Paul said. "I threw the ball between Blake Griffin's legs. I thought it would be a turnover, so thank you Blake Griffin for diving for the ball. Without him, we don't win the game."

Mo Williams added 14 points, Randy Foye had 10 and Reggie Evans added a season-high 10 rebounds for the Pacific Division-leading Clippers, who improved to 16-8.

"Reggie was great for us," Griffin said.

The Clippers are still coping with the loss of veteran guard Chauncey Billups, who suffered a season-ending Achilles tear.

Foye, who starred at nearby Villanova, received his second straight start and scored four points in the fourth quarter.

But it was Paul who found a way to get it done at the end.

"Chris Paul made the big one," Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro said. "We tried to open up the lane a little. He's going to make the right play. That's what great players do."

Elton Brand had 12 points and 10 rebounds while Iguodala added 12 points, eight rebounds and seven assists one day after being selected to the All-Star team as a reserve for the first time in his eight-year career.

Lou Williams had 11 points while Jodie Meeks and Thaddeus Young had 10 each for the Sixers, who dropped consecutive games for the first time this season.

"It's disappointing to lose two straight at home," Brand said. "We've got to regroup, go on the road and keep growing."

The Sixers completed a tough seven-game stretch with a 4-3 mark.

Philadelphia defeated Orlando, Chicago and the Los Angeles Lakers at home with a road victory against Atlanta.

The three losses came against Miami, San Antonio and the Clippers, all at home.

The Sixers have a 13-5 record at home following a favorable schedule with only nine road games thus far.

A sellout crowd of 20,539 was roaring - the third sellout on this homestand - and the fans were chanting "Beat LA!"

The noise reached a fever pitch following a pair of free throws by Williams with 18 seconds left, giving the Sixers a 77-76 advantage.

"We had chances," Williams said. "We kind of shots ourselves in the foot with mistakes and missed free throws."

But Paul responded with that difficult shot with 3.2 seconds left, sending the Clippers back on top 78-77.

"We had to grind it out," Del Negro said. "We didn't shoot it well, but we got out on them defensively and slowed them down."

The Sixers led by as many as 12 in the first half, but the Clippers rallied thanks to Mo Williams and got within 43-41 at halftime.

Notes: Griffin was whistled for a technical foul with 5:39 left in the third quarter. ... Sixers C Spencer Hawes was out for the 12th time in the past 14 games with a strained left Achilles. ... Wali Jones, a member of the Sixers' 1966-67 championship team, attended the game.

Notebook: Clippers 78, Sixers 77

Posted Friday February 10, 2012 11:03PM

Andy Jasner, for NBA.com

THE FACTS: Chris Paul's 17-footer with 3.2 seconds remaining gave the Los Angeles Clippers a huge 78-77 road win over the Philadelphia 76ers before a sellout crowd of 20,539 Friday at the Wells Fargo Center. Blake Griffin scored 16 points and swept 11 rebounds while Mo Williams added 14 points. The Clippers improved to 16-8 and 6-5 on the road.

Elton Brand scored 12 points and grabbed 10 rebounds while Andre Iguodala scored 12 points for the Sixers (18-9), who lost back-to-back games for the first time this season. Lou Williams also had 11 points.

QUOTABLE: "I looked at the clock and saw I had a chance. I missed a couple of those in the fourth quarter, but fortunately it went in."
-- Paul, on his game-winning shot.

THE STAT: The Sixers missed eight crucial free throws, going 15-for-23.

TURNING POINT: Griffin's hustle on Paul's winning shot saved the game. If Griffin doesn't dive on the floor and get possession of the ball, the Clippers might not have been celebrating at the end.

HOT: Paul was 10-for-20 and 4-for-4 from the free throw line.

NOT: Jrue Holiday missed six of his eight shots and had five turnovers for the Sixers.

QUOTABLE II: "Only seven turnovers was great. That's the kind of thing you have to do against a team like that. They're tough at home and they don't give up."
-- Griffin.

FANTASY SPOTLIGHT: Iguodala continues to fill up the stat sheet with 12 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.

INSIDE THE ARENA: The surging Sixers continue to draw quite well at the Wells Fargo Center. There was a boisterous sellout crowd of 20,539 buzzing throughout the game. Wali Jones, who played for the 1966-67 Sixers' title team, was in attendance and received a nice ovation.

QUOTABLE III: "At the end of the game, I'll put that on me. I've got to give our team more help at the end of games executing the play. That's not on the players. That's on me. I've got to be better. I'm the coach of this team. In that situation, I've got to get us a better shot. No excuses, other than I didn't do a good job in the last three seconds of that game."
-- Sixers coach Doug Collins, on a failed last possession in which Williams couldn't get a shot off in time.

GOOD MOVE: The Clippers smothered Williams on the last possession, not allowing the Sixers' super-sub to get a clean look.

BAD MOVE: The Sixers' offense stalled at times in the fourth quarter and the offense just wasn't as fluid as it needed to be.

ROOKIE WATCH: Clippers guard Travis Leslie and forward Trey Thompkins didn't play. Nikola Vucevic made his fifth start and had two points and four rebounds while Lavoy Allen scored five points and grabbed eight rebounds for the Sixers.

NOTABLE: Sixers center Spencer Hawes was out for the 12th time in the last 14 games with a strained left Achilles. ... Griffin received a technical foul with 5:39 remaining in the third quarter for arguing after a layup. ... Brand had his second straight double-double. ... Holiday committed five turnovers after having just six over the previous six games combined. ... The Clippers outrebounded Philadelphia 46-40. ... Griffin, on Reggie Evans, who had 10 rebounds: "He brings energy. He is a wild card out there. He got spread out a couple times, but his effort, his energy is contagious. Guys feed off him."

NEXT: For the Clippers, Saturday @ Charlotte, Monday @ Dallas, Wednesday vs. Washington. For the Sixers, Saturday @ Cleveland, Monday @ Charlotte, Wednesday @ Orlando.

• Clippers: Billups
• 76ers: Brackins

• Clippers: Griffin
• 76ers: --

• Lead Changes: 12
• Times Tied: 7

• Arena: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA
• Officials: #25 Tony Brothers, #7 Kevin Fehr, #71 Rodney Mott
• Attendance: 20539
• Duration: 2:19