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Sixers edge Nets in key late season battle

Sat 22nd, March 2008

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Andre Iguodala drained four big free throws down the stretch, as his 28 points, seven rebounds and five assists paced the Philadelphia 76ers over the New Jersey Nets, 91-87.

The Sixers had lost three straight to their Atlantic Division foe, including twice this season. Andre Miller helped end the streak with 21 points and five assists. Lou Williams was once again a spark off the bench, netting 15 points on 4-of-6 shooting from the floor. Samuel Dalembert corralled a game-high 18 rebounds to go along with 11 points for the victors.

Philadelphia is now a half-game behind Toronto for the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

New Jersey lost its ninth straight road game, as the defeat dropped the squad back 1 1/2 games behind the Atlanta Hawks for the final Eastern Conference playoff berth. Vince Carter dropped in 27 points, and had eight rebounds and five assists to lead the way for New Jersey. Devin Harris and Nenad Krstic both added 14 points, while Richard Jefferson was held to 3-of-15 shooting from the field and 11 points. Josh Boone pulled down a team-high 11 caroms to go along with nine points.

The lead exchanged hands several times in the contest, as the outcome was made in the final few possessions. A Carter dunk cut the Sixers' lead to 86-85 with 1:46 left. After the ensuing timeout, Dalembert was fouled and missed both attempts at the stripe.

Carter had a chance to put the Nets ahead after the errant tries, but his jumper fell off the mark. Krstic though came up with a block on a shot by Thaddeus Young, and Dalembert missed, giving the Nets another shot at the lead. However, Boone missed a layup.

On the next possession, Iguodala drove the lane, was fouled and promptly made both free throws with 22.5 seconds remaining and the lead increased to 88-85.

Carter's three-point attempt to tie the game didn't fall, and Iguodala made it a two-possession game with two more made free throws. A Carter dunk followed by Miller hitting 1-of-2 from the stripe with 9.1 seconds left put the game away for the home team.

In a back-and-forth opening stanza, neither team led by more than four points, as Miller's layup late in the period gave the Sixers a 23-19 lead at the end of 12 minutes.

The Nets came back to tie the game 23-23 at the start of the second quarter, but a Williams three-pointer sparked a quick 7-0 run for the Sixers. After a brief rally from New Jersey, the guards of the home team began to take over. Miller finished with 14 points in the half and the Sixers jumped out to a 49-42 lead heading into the locker room.

Miller connected with Iguodala on an alley-oop out of the break, and the Sixers looked to be off and running. However, the Nets buckled down on defense and held the Sixers without a field goal for almost five minutes in the third quarter.

The 13-0 Nets run pushed New Jersey ahead 66-58 with a little over four minutes to go in the third. Carter put an exclamation point on the quarter with a dunk over Dalembert three minutes later, as New Jersey brought a 75-68 lead into the final period.

On the backs of its guards, Philadelphia opened the fourth on a 10-2 run to suddenly take a 78-77 lead. Iguodala and Miller continually made their way into the lane, getting easy baskets or forcing their way to the foul line.

On the other end of the floor, Dalembert and the Sixers front court made easy looks tough to come by for the Nets, as the away team scored just 12 points in the final period.

Game Notes

Philadelphia and New Jersey will square off for the final time this season on April 1 at the Meadowlands...The Nets last road win came February 8 against Charlotte, 104-90...New Jersey hasn't won four straight in the head-to-head series since Feb. 23, 1994-Jan. 13, 1995...The Sixers have won 17 of their last 22 games...The Sixers made 19 of their 25 free throws in the fourth quarter...New Jersey made 21-of-25 from the line...Philadelphia shot 38.3 percent from the floor compared to the Nets' .378 field goal percentage...Philadelphia outrebounded the New Jersey, 50-45.

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