Stepping Up
Philadelphia,Pa – Andre Miller, Andre Iguodala and Samuel Dalembert all stepped up to help the Philadelphia 76ers win their first game since learning of Elton Brand’s season-ending injury.
To continue their playoff push, the Sixers will likely need those three players to be at their best.
Oddsmakers from online sports book Sportsbook.com have made the 76ers -4 point spread favorites for Thursday’s game against the Heat Current NBA Public Betting Information shows that 54% of more than 227 bets for this game have been placed on the 76ers -4.
Miller, Iguodala and Dalembert look to build off solid performances on Saturday when Philadelphia hosts the Miami Heat.
Brand, in the first year of a five-year, $80 million contract with Philadelphia (24-24), separated his right shoulder in a 93-88 win over Milwaukee on Dec. 17. The two-time All-Star forward opted for rehabilitation instead of surgery and missed 16 games, but was still in pain after returning to action.
The 76ers announced on Thursday that Brand would need season-ending surgery, and hours later, they went out and defeated Indiana 99-94.
All five starters reached double-digits in scoring by the fourth quarter and Philadelphia curbed a Pacers rally to avoid a third straight final-quarter collapse.
Last Saturday, the Sixers missed their final 18 shots from the floor in an 85-83 loss to New Jersey. On Tuesday, they led the entire fourth against Boston until Ray Allen won it with a go-ahead 3-pointer with 0.5 seconds left.
"We have to rally around each other and go out there and pick up our play on both ends of the floor," said Philadelphia guard Willie Green, who scored a game-high 23 points Thursday.
Miller had 13 points and 12 assists, Iguodala had 20 points and 11 assists, and Dalembert finished with season highs of 18 points and 20 rebounds to make up for Brand’s absence in the frontcourt.
The Sixers are in seventh place in the Eastern Conference, two games back of sixth-place Miami (26-22).
"We can make it work, we just have to make it work," Iguodala said. "It’s as simple as that."
In their only meeting of the season on Nov. 5, the Heat won 106-83 at home to snap a five-game losing streak to the Sixers. Iguodala finished with a season-low two points on 1-of-7 shooting.
Philadelphia has won four straight and 10 of the last 11 meetings at the Wachovia Center.
The Heat lost at Detroit 93-90 on Wednesday and have dropped three of four games after winning six of their previous eight.
Miami trailed by eight points in the fourth quarter before pulling even at 87 with a minute remaining, but could not complete the comeback. Dwyane Wade missed a potential game-tying 3-pointer as time expired.
"It did lead to a loss but it was a good game," said Wade, who had 29 points and 13 assists. "It was one of those games where we fought."
Wade’s shot was off on Wednesday, as the five-time All-Star was 10-of-31 from the field after averaging 28.7 points on 57.9 percent shooting in his previous three games.
Wade had 29 points on 9-of-15 shooting in the win over the 76ers in November, and has scored at least 27 points in five of his last six games against Philadelphia. The Heat are 19-11 when Wade scores at least 27 points this season.
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