Rockets-76ers Preview

By NOEY KUPCHAN
Posted Jan 12 2013 2:06AM

After spending most of the last three weeks on the road, the struggling Philadelphia 76ers are hoping to make the most of a heavy slate of home games.

The 76ers try to avoid losing six straight for the first time in three seasons as they open a stretch of 12 of 13 at home Saturday night against a Houston Rockets team coming off back-to-back losses.

Philadelphia (15-22) enters the weekend having dropped 13 of 16, 12 of which came in opposing arenas. The 76ers, though, would appear to have a good chance to get things turned around with only one road game scheduled through Feb. 11. They've gone 9-8 on their own court compared to 6-14 on the road.

"Coming back home, getting a little rest, it gives us an opportunity to find ourselves," center Spencer Hawes said. "We have to look at this chance here at home as a great option for us to get right back in the mix."

Philadelphia, which has averaged 84.2 points and been outscored by an average of 18.2 during its five-game skid, is coming off Wednesday's 90-72 loss at Toronto. Jrue Holiday and Thaddeus Young scored 16 points apiece but the 76ers shot 39.2 percent and posted their lowest scoring output of the season.

"I think what happens when you get a little fatigued the ball sticks, guys don't move," coach Doug Collins said. "I think as much as anything as a basketball player you struggle to score the ball, that's probably as deflating as anything and then you throw in fatigue, you throw in the schedule, there's no question it all rolls together."

Despite its struggles, Philadelphia, which hasn't dropped six straight since March 30-April 9, 2010, sits in ninth place in the Eastern Conference - four games behind Milwaukee for the eighth and final playoff spot.

"As poorly as we've played and as bad as the results have been, we're not that far out of it," Hawes added. "You get one game, you get two and then you start rolling. ... I think we have to get our defensive identity back and start playing together on both ends, start having fun again."

The 76ers will likely need to clamp down with Houston (21-16) coming to town. The Rockets, averaging 105.6 points to rank second in the league, shot 56.0 percent to run away from Philadelphia in a 125-103 victory Dec. 19.

Houston, though, hasn't been able to find its groove on the first two stops of its three-game trek. Two nights after being limited to their fewest points this season in an 88-79 loss at New Orleans, the Rockets went a season-worst 12 for 29 (41.4 percent) from the free-throw line Friday in a 103-91 defeat at Boston.

"That's the second game in a row where we haven't shot well, haven't moved it really well," said coach Kevin McHale, whose team hasn't dropped three straight since Dec. 7-10. "We've got a lot of stuff we've got to clean up. We've got to hit the open man, make the extra pass - just clean it up a little bit."

McHale is surely at least partly referring to James Harden's sloppy play. Harden turned the ball over six times Friday after committing a career worst-tying seven against the Hornets. He's averaging 3.7 turnovers, just behind Holiday's league-worst mark of 3.8.

Harden, who had 24 points against the Celtics, scored 33 against Philadelphia last month. Holiday missed that game due to a sprained left foot.

Friday's loss dropped the Rockets to 14-3 against East opponents.

76ers snap 5-game skid in 107-100 win over Rockets

By DAN GELSTON
Posted Jan 12 2013 11:52PM

PHILADELPHIA (AP) The 76ers found the fresh start at home they wanted.

Jrue Holiday scored 30 points, Thaddeus Young had 18 points and 12 rebounds and the Philadelphia 76ers snapped a five-game losing streak with a 107-100 win over the Houston Rockets on Saturday night.

Jason Richardson scored 16 points for the Sixers, who finally return home for a lengthy stint as they try to play their way back into the Eastern Conference playoff race. The Sixers opened a stretch of 12 home games in the next 13 and hope they can start to offset a miserable 2-6 road trip that stretched over the new year. They played 12 of 15 on the road dating back to Dec. 14.

"No excuses, you've got to play all 82," coach Doug Collins said. "But when they're bunched like that, it's tough. Over the holidays. We spent Christmas on the road. We spent New Year's on the road. That's not easy. People forget they do have families and they have to give that up."

The road woes are one reason the Sixers are only 6-16 after a nice 10-6 start to the season. But it's turned into crunch time quickly for the Sixers as they as try and get back to .500 in the next month before the hopeful return of injured center Andrew Bynum.

James Harden led the Rockets with 29 points and Chandler Parsons had 23. Jeremy Lin missed 11 of 13 shots for seven points en route to Houston's third straight loss.

"Every team goes through some adversity and we're going through some a little bit right now," coach Kevin McHale said. "We didn't win. We've got to find a way to win."

Led by 24 points from Holiday, the energetic Sixers built a 14-point lead in the third quarter, and found an offensive touch they've missed for most of the season. The Sixers entered 27th in the NBA in scoring (92.2 points) and regularly failed to even reach 90 points over the last six weeks.

Spencer Hawes hit a jumper early in the fourth to make it 91-82 - the first time in six games the Sixers had scored more than 89 points. The Sixers didn't break 89 in either of their two games before a 103-99 win over the Lakers on Jan. 1.

The cushion almost wasn't enough once Harden tried to take over. Collins called Harden a legitimate MVP candidate and the Houston guard showed why in the fourth. He scored six straight points, including the play of the game, going between his legs in transition and drawing a foul on a bucket over three defenders. Harden's three-point play pulled Houston to 96-93.

For once, the stumbling Sixers didn't break in the waning minutes. Evan Turner, who scored 12 points, fed a long pass to Young for a big dunk on the break and a seven-point lead.

The Rockets missed eight straight shots from the field to lose control of their comeback. Harden fumbled the ball with a minute a left and Young was there to pick it up and fire to Holiday, who took one look over his shoulder and put in the easy layup for a 104-94 lead.

Holiday sank two free throws to hit the 30-point mark, falling three points shy of matching his career high set in November against Phoenix. He made 11 of 22 shots, sank all seven attempts from the free-throw line and had nine assists (with six turnovers).

"We needed it," Holiday said. "Going into this home stretch, getting the first one is huge. Home court is big. It's crucial. On the road, we didn't do what we wanted to do. We've got to come here and try and win at home."

Houston's cold stretch was uncharacteristic of a team that was second in the NBA in scoring (105.60 points) behind Oklahoma City. The Rockets only shot 30 percent from 3-point range (8 of 32) and had no answer to stop Holiday en route to their third straight loss.

"Teams are getting out to some good leads on us and we try and fight back," Harden said. "We get it back to a two- or three-point game and then run out of energy."

Collins has noted this team's missing energy to open second halves over the last month. Against Houston, they started slow, trailing by 11 before ending the quarter on a 20-6 run. Turner scored 12 points in the second quarter to help the Sixers take a 58-50 lead into halftime.

The Sixers held on to avoid a season-high losing streak and win for only the fourth time in 17 games.

NOTES: The Sixers are 15-0 with a lead at the start of the fourth quarter. ... The Sixers play Tuesday at Milwaukee for their only road game until Feb. 13. ... Holiday's great game could have been two points better. He had a jumper at the buzzer to end the third waved off after a review. ... Parsons and Harden combined to miss 13 of 16 3-point attempts.

Notebook: Sixers 107, Rockets 100

Andy Jasner, for NBA.com
Posted Sat Jan 12, 2013 10:59 PM - Updated Sat Jan 12, 2013 10:59 PM

THE FACTS: Jrue Holiday scored 30 points, Thaddeus Young contributed a double-double consisting of 18 points and 12 rebounds and the Philadelphia 76ers snapped a frustrating five-game losing streak with a 107-100 victory over the Houston Rockets on Saturday night at the Wells Fargo Center. Jason Richardson scored 16 points, Evan Turner had 12 points and Spencer Hawes 10 for the Sixers, who improved to 16-22.

James Harden led the Rockets with 29 points while Chandler Parsons had 23 points. Carlos Delfino scored 16 points off the bench and Omer Asik added 16 points and 10 rebounds, but the Rockets dropped their third in a row to fall to 21-17.

QUOTABLE: "We've been given a great opportunity to be at home and that's what we've got to do."

-- Evan Turner, on beginning a stretch of 12 of 13 at home with a victory

THE STAT: The Sixers won despite trailing by as many as 11 points in the first quarter. They are now 4-19 in games when they've trailed by double digits this season.

TURNING POINT: After the Rockets got within 96-93, the Sixers reeled off a 6-0 run, including four points by Young to help seal the victory. Parsons missed a couple of 3-pointers and Houston misfired on eight straight attempts between 6:13 and 48.9 of the fourth.

HOT: Young was 8-for-14 while Turner was 6-for-10.

NOT: Jeremy Lin struggled mightily and missed 11 of his 13 shots.

QUOTABLE II: "We played with a lot of energy and emotion."

-- Thaddeus Young, on what the team needed in order to snap a five-game skid.

FANTASY SPOTLIGHT: Holiday had 30 points, nine assists, four steals, three rebounds and one blocked shot. For the Rockets, Harden had 29 points, nine rebounds, six assists and two steals. Both guards had terrific all-around games for their respective teams.

INSIDE THE ARENA: It was quite a lively crowd of 17,329 for this matchup against the Rockets. When the game was close down the stretch, there was a major buzz inside the arena.

QUOTABLE III: "You can't just give possessions away."

-- Rockets coach Kevin McHale, on his team committing 17 turnovers.

GOOD MOVE: Holiday had a stellar night and was able to be even more effective with Turner handling the ball for long stretches. That allowed Holiday to roam free and conserve his energy when the Sixers needed him the most in the waning minutes.

BAD MOVE: The Rockets could have looked into the low post more often for Asik. He was playing at a very high level, knocked down six of his seven shots and even hit all four of his free throws.

ROOKIE WATCH: Rockets center Donatas Motiejunas was a DNP-CD. For the Sixers, forward Arnett Moultrie and guard Maalik Wayns each received a DNP-CD.

NOTABLE: Holiday reached the 30-point plateau for the second time this season. Over the past 11 games, Holiday is averaging 20.0 points, 8.6 assists and 4.6 rebounds. ... Harden has hit the 20-point mark for the 20th consecutive game. ... Young picked up his 10th double-double after recording just one all of last season. ... The Sixers are 15-0 when leading at the start of the fourth quarter. ... The Rockets lost their third straight after winning five in a row. ... The Sixers had 24 fast-break points, their highest total since scoring 24 against Milwaukee on Nov. 12. ... The Rockets were 8-for-32 from beyond the arc. ... Parsons was responsible for six of Houston's 16 turnovers.

UP NEXT: For the Rockets, Tuesday vs. L.A. Clippers, Wednesday @ Dallas, Friday @ Indiana. For the Sixers, Tuesday vs. New Orleans, Friday vs. Toronto, Monday vs. San Antonio.

• Rockets: Beverley, Jones, White
• 76ers: Bynum

• Rockets: --
• 76ers: Hawes

• Lead Changes: 2
• Times Tied: 3

• Arena: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA
• Officials: #41 Ken Mauer, #11 Derrick Collins, #52 Scott Twardoski
• Attendance: 17329
• Duration: 2:11