photo courtesy of Jesse D Garrabrant NBAE/Getty Images

Philadelphia captured a 23-19 lead after the first quarter, the first time the Sixers have led at the end of a quarter in the series against Detroit. The 76ers used an 18-7 rebounding advantage in the quarter, including nine offensive rebounds that allowed Philadelphia to score 13 second chance points.

Kenny Thomas became the first Sixer to post back-to-back double-doubles since Dikembe Mutombo did so in the 2001 NBA Finals against the L.A. Lakers.

For the third time in franchise history, the Sixers and Pistons will play a back-to-back playoff games. In the 1955 NBA Finals, the Syracuse Nationals, who moved to Philadelphia in 1963-64 to become the 76ers, and the Fort Wayne Pistons played two sets of back-to-back games. Syracuse won three of the four games.

The Sixers will be playing back-to-back playoff games for first time since the 1985 Eastern Conference Finals when the Sixers hosted Boston. This will be the 40th time the Sixers have played back-to-back playoff games with a 24-16 record in the first game. Philadelphia has a 10-13 record in the second game after winning the first game.

In the last two days, the Sixers have welcomed two new members to their family. Kenna Margaret McGinnis, 7 pounds, 14 ounces and 20 inches, checked into the McGinnis family lineup Saturday at 6 p.m. Tom, the 76ers Director of Radio Broadcasting, Robin and baby are doing well. Jon Gurevitch subbed in for McGinnis with the call of tonight’s game on WIP (610 AM).

Also, Keith and Amy Van Horn are the proud parents of a baby girl, Haley, born May 9, 2003, at 4:06 p.m. Haley was 7 pounds, 8 ounces and was 20 1/2 inches. Mom, Dad, sisters Sabrina and Noelle, and brother Nicholas are all doing well.

With a Keith Van Horn jump shot at the 4:56 mark of the third quarter, the Sixers took a 22-point lead, the largest 76er lead of the 2003 playoffs. It marked the largest lead Philadelphia has held in a playoff game since its 121-81 win over Toronto at the First Union Center in Game 5 of the 2001 First Round when Philadelphia led by as many as 34 points.

Allen Iverson finished with 25 points and 11 assists for his fifth career double-double (3 points-assists, 1 points-steals, 1 points-rebounds). Through nine playoff games, Iverson is averaging 6.7 assists per game after averaging 5.5 assists per game in the regular season. Iverson has now scored 20 or more points in 21-straight playoff games and has scored at least 13 points in all 53 playoff appearances.

Keith Van Horn, who accounted for all three of Philadlephia’s three-point field goals by connecting on 3-of-4 from long-range, has made at least one three-point field goal in all nine playoff games this season.

For the fourth time during the 2003 playoffs, all five starters for the 76ers scored in double-digits.

Philadelphia’s defense limited Detroit to a series-low 15 points in the third quarter.

Tyrone Hill contributed nine points and six rebounds in 22 minutes off the bench after totaling six points and eight rebounds in the first two games.

The Sixers starting frontcourt (Keith Van Horn, Kenny Thomas, Derrick Coleman) combined to outscore the Detroit starting frontcourt (Michael Curry, Ben Wallace, Clifford Robinson), 42-10.

Philadelphia improved to 17-11 in playoffs at the First Union Center.