Pacers-76ers Preview

By BRETT HUSTON
Posted Apr 16 2012 11:44PM

The Indiana Pacers are peaking as the season winds down, and a few more wins could lock them into the No. 3 seed and give them a chance to earn some rest before the playoffs.

If the Philadelphia 76ers don't get their act together quickly, they'll be in line for some rest once the postseason begins.

The surging Pacers look for their sixth straight win and 10th in 11 games Tuesday night when they visit the 76ers, who have lost six of eight in April and are clinging to a playoff spot heading into their final home game.

The top two in the Eastern Conference have been clearly defined all season, but only in April has Indiana (39-22) emerged as a clear No. 3 behind Chicago and Miami.

The Pacers have won nine of 10 this month and hold a three-game lead on Boston, Atlanta and Orlando for the third spot. Though their five consecutive wins have all been against teams on the outside of the playoff picture, they should be well rested for this trip to Philadelphia after no starter played more than 26 minutes in Monday's 111-88 rout of Minnesota.

"We came out with the killer instinct tonight," coach Frank Vogel said. "That set the tone for us. That's what we want to go into the playoffs with."

David West led the way with 22 points and 10 rebounds in a game Indiana led by as many as 37 late in the first half.

"I think the biggest thing is that we continue to build good habits," said West, who scored 20 for the first time since March 6. "We're coming out and trying to make the right play every single time. I think that's imperative for us. We continue the momentum we're starting to build and hopefully, we'll be playing some of our best ball a week-and-a-half from now."

The 76ers (31-29) had a great opportunity to seize control of the seventh seed in the East on Monday, but couldn't take advantage of an Orlando team missing Dwight Howard and Glen Davis. Philadelphia led 27-21 after one quarter but allowed 92 points over the final 3 - 3.7 more than their league-best average for a game - in a 113-100 loss.

"They just shot the lights out," coach Doug Collins said. "They really did."

The Sixers dropped into an eighth-place tie with the Knicks, who own the head-to-head tiebreaker, but their big concern should be the team behind them. Milwaukee trails Philadelphia by two games, but the 76ers visit the Bradley Center on April 25 for a game that will determine that season series and perhaps the No. 8 seed.

That contest is one of five straight on the road - where Collins' team is 5-12 since Feb. 15 - to close the season, making Tuesday's home finale all the more significant.

The Sixers beat Indiana 96-86 at Wells Fargo Center on Jan. 9 behind 20 points from Andre Iguodala, but they've lost three straight on their home court - including embarrassing defeats to Toronto and New Jersey.

The Pacers fared much better in the teams' most recent meeting, shooting a then season-high 56.6 percent in a 111-94 home win March 14 as West scored 18 and Danny Granger had 20.

A win Tuesday would give Indiana five straight on the road in a single season for the first time since March 2-12, 2004.

Philadelphia leading scorer Lou Williams (15.0 points per game) has averaged 9.0 on 32.3 percent shooting in his last three games against the Pacers.

Pacers beat 76ers 102-97 for 6th straight victory

By DAN GELSTON
Posted Apr 17 2012 10:55PM

PHILADELPHIA (AP) As the final seconds ticked down, what was left of a thin crowd booed the 76ers as they headed off the court in their home finale after their latest close-call defeat.

The question looms large now: Will the Sixers play at home again?

The Indiana Pacers did their best to spoil Philadelphia's attempt at earning some breathing room for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Danny Granger scored 24 points, and Roy Hibbert had 15 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Pacers to their sixth straight win, 102-97 over Philadelphia on Tuesday night.

The Pacers won their fifth straight road game and 10th of 11 overall and seem to be hitting their stride as the postseason nears. The Pacers play their final four games at home and, barring a complete collapse, should earn the No. 3 seed in the East.

"The talent we have on this team is really high," Granger said. "We just execute. We just play the game the right away."

The Sixers could take some tips.

Andre Iguodala scored 23 points for the Sixers in their third straight loss as they continue their late-season swoon.

They lead idle Milwaukee by only 1 1/2 games for the eighth and final spot in the East. The Sixers play their final five games on the road, including April 25 at Milwaukee. The Sixers finish a three games-in-/three nights string Wednesday in Cleveland.

Thaddeus Young scored 19 points and Lou Williams had 18, both off the bench, for the Sixers, who are a woeful 3-18 in games decided by seven or less points. They dropped to 2-23 when tied or trailing after three quarters.

"Eventually, you've got to win some of those games," coach Doug Collins said. "There's two things we haven't done this year, win close games and get to the free-throw line. Both of those are physical and mental toughness."

David West had 13 points and George Hill added 12 for the Pacers, who made 13 of 24 3-point attempts. The Pacers made 11 of 24 3s against Minnesota on Monday night.

"We just flat-out battled like it was a playoff game," Pacers coach Frank Vogel said.

Sparked by Tyler Hansbrough, the Pacers put away a Sixers team that came to life in the third quarter. The Sixers used a 13-2 run in the third to help turn a halftime deficit into a four-point lead.

The Sixers were badly outplayed a night earlier in a loss at short-handed Orlando and hoped the home finale would help them regain some needed momentum.

For a moment, with Jrue Holiday dunking on a fast break and Iguodala nailing a key 3, it seemed the Sixers had found their way.

It wouldn't last.

The Sixers turned the ball over on their last three possessions of the third quarter - the first led to Dahntay Jones' 3-pointer and the second to Leandro Barbosa's layup that tied the score at 70. The Pacers failed to get a shot off in time off the third one before the quarter buzzer sounded.

No worries. The Pacers picked up in the fourth where they left off in the third.

Hansbrough opened the quarter with a jumper, then showed some of that old "Psycho T" toughness in the paint, converting a three-point play. Granger stretched the lead with consecutive 3s and the Pacers were on their way toward their second win in two nights.

"Tyler always does that," Granger said. "He wakes up both teams with his energy. You better be looking for him."

Oh, the Sixers tried to rally. Iguodala, though, was booed as he missed two free throws and the Sixers down seven points late in the game.

Young buried a late 3 to make it 98-95 in the final minute, but Williams missed a tying 3 and the Pacers avoided the late upset scare.

"We can't come out and not win games," Young said. "We have to, now."

The Sixers, who started the season 20-9, are in serious trouble of missing the playoffs. At 31-30, they could come up short in their first winning record since 2004-05.

Sixers great and Hall of Famer Julius Erving addressed the team after the game and told them they could rise to the occasion over the final games. Collins said the Sixers can't let this chance at the postseason slip away.

"We just couldn't get to the finish," Collins said.

The Sixers had three starters fail to score in the first half and shot only 41 percent from the field. Granger hit three early 3s to lead the Pacers to a 47-42 halftime lead.

"You get in one of those modes where you feel like all of them are going in," Granger said.

Notes: Collins said he's happy for Indiana team president Larry Bird that the Pacers have enjoyed a successful season after several lean years following their brawl with Detroit. Collins said, "there's no finer basketball city than Indianapolis." ... The Sixers went 19-14 at home. ... The Pacers went 19-14 on the road.

Notebook: Pacers 102, Sixers 97

Posted Tuesday April 17, 2012 10:56PM

By Andy Jasner, for NBA.com

THE FACTS: Danny Granger scored 24 points, Roy Hibbert scored 15 points and grabbed 13 rebounds as the Indiana Pacers won their 40th game with a 102-97 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers Tuesday night at the Wells Fargo Center. The Pacers (40-22) also received 13 points from David West and 12 from George Hill. Indiana improved to 19-14 on the road and won its sixth straight overall.

Andre Iguodala led the reeling Sixers with 23 points. Thaddeus Young scored 19 points and Lou Williams had 18. But the Sixers (31-30) dropped their fourth in a row at home and saw their lead dwindle in the race for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. They lead the Milwaukee Bucks by just a game-and-a-half.

QUOTABLE: "I've been a scorer all of my career. When you get in one of those modes, you feel like they are all just going to go in and a lot of them do. That's just the way it was tonight."
-- Granger, on his hot shooting, especially from 3-point land.

THE STAT: The Sixers fell to 3-18 this season in games decided by seven or fewer points.

TURNING POINT: After the Sixers climbed within 90-87, Hibbert responded with a three-point play followed by a 3-pointer from Paul George. Just like that, it was 96-87 with 1:35 remaining.

HOT: Granger was 6-for-8 from 3-point territory, including some clutch treys with the shot clock winding down.

NOT: Evan Turner missed all three of shots while starting shooting guard Jodie Meeks was 1-for-4. That's not enough production in what was a critical game for the Sixers.

QUOTABLE II: "I think it's more us for giving them good looks. We talk about not giving up corner threes. It was just mental lapses that really, really hurt us."
-- Elton Brand, on the Pacers shooting 13-for-24 from beyond the arc, one night after the Orlando Magic shot 11-for-18.

FANTASY SPOTLIGHT: Iguodala scored 23 points and added seven rebounds and six assists for the Sixers.

INSIDE THE ARENA: Former Sixers legend Julius Erving was in attendance at the Wells Fargo Center. Erving received a standing ovation after being shown on the video board in the second quarter.

QUOTABLE III: "Indiana is good. They're gonna cause people problems. If they win their first-round matchup and get into that second round against either Miami or Chicago, that could really be a good series."
-- Sixers head coach Doug Collins, on the Pacers as they head for the playoffs.

GOOD MOVE: The Pacers did a great job of establishing Hibbert in the low post and then working an inside-out game with their shooters.

BAD MOVE: The Sixers struggled with their perimeter defense, especially beyond the arc. One night after giving up 11 3-pointers to the Orlando Magic, the Pacers torched Philadelphia for 13 treys. Defense has been a staple all season, but it hasn't been consistent the past couple of games.

ROOKIE WATCH: Nikola Vucevic started at center for the Sixers and managed just two points and two rebounds. Forward Lavoy Allen didn't play.

NOTABLE: The Sixers fell to 0-10 when allowing 100 or more points. ... The Pacers improved to 24-4 when eclipsing the 100-point plateau. ... The Sixers lost despite recording season-highs in free throws made (24) and free throws attempted (32). ... Iguodala had gone 45 games scoring below 20 points before Tuesday, the longest drought of his career. ... The Sixers are 2-23 when tied or trailing after three quarters. ... Pacers guard Darren Collison was inactive with a sore groin. ... Hibbert registered his 21st double-double this season. ... Indiana reached 40 victories in game No. 62. It didn't even reach 30 wins in any of the previous five seasons through its first 62 games.

NEXT: For the Pacers, Thursday vs. Milwaukee, Saturday vs. Philadelphia, Monday vs. Detroit. For the Sixers, Wednesday @ Cleveland, Saturday @ Indiana, Monday @ New Jersey.

• Pacers: Collison, Foster
• 76ers: --

• Pacers: --
• 76ers: --

• Lead Changes: 8
• Times Tied: 11

• Arena: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA
• Officials: #24 Mike Callahan, #11 Derrick Collins, #63 Derek Richardson
• Attendance: 18969
• Duration: 2:23