ATLANTAThe Sixers had not lost back-to-back games all season. That didnt change on Saturday.
They built a 20-point third-quarter lead, which Atlanta cut into on several occasions, but eventually the Sixers beat the Hawks for a fourth consecutive time and the second time this season, 98-87.
The Sixers are 17-7 on the season and 5-4 on the road.
Spencer Hawes was back in the starting lineup after missing 10 consecutive games with a strained Achilles. Elton Brand was inactive with a thumb injury.
Hawes made 7 of 11 shots for 14 points in his return.
Rookie Lavoy Allen made his first NBA start on his 23rd birthday and Nik Vucevic saw his first significant minutes since injuring his left kneequad two weeks ago in Miami.
Allen was limited to 12 minutes because Vucevic was on fire, leading the team with 15 points, while Hawes was also solid.
NBA
The Sixers had nine steals on the night, five of which came from Atlanta native Jodie Meeks.
Turning point
Two big shots came in the final three minutes. Andre Iguodala shot an air ball that went out of bounds off an Atlanta Hawk. The Sixers inbounded the ball to Hawes at the corner of the key and he knocked down the jumper as the shot clock expired.
Lou Williams worked the shot clock and then penetrated the lane before knocking down his patented step back with 1:22 to play to put the Sixers up 11.
Follow the leader
Vucevic clearly didnt like that he had fallen back in the rotation, but it happens. People get hurt, others play well, minutes get shuffled. It is a nice problem for a coach to have, but can be difficult for a young player.
Backing up Hawes against the Hawks, Vucevic was 7 for 10 from the floor for a team-high 15 points.
Four Sixers reserves scored in double figures. Jeff Teague led Atlanta with 21 points and Joe Johnson scored 16.
Stat-egic
The Sixers did to the Hawks in the second quarter what Miami did to them Friday night in the fourth. The Sixers shot 17 for 23 (74 percent) from the floor to lead 57-41 at intermission.
The Heat exploded in the final 12 minutes making 12 of 16 shot attempts.
Meanwhile, in the first half, Iguodala and Jrue Holiday were a combined 2 for 12, while the rest of the team was 24 for 35.
The Sixers have strength in numbers.
Take a bow
In the second quarter Evan Turner attempted to throw an alley-oop pass to Thaddeus Young. The pass never got to Young because it went in the basket.
Turner was standing outside the arc when he threw the line drive toward, making his fifth three-pointer of the season. Turner is shooting just 20 percent from three this season.
Turner finished with 11 points, six rebounds and five assists. He also had the highest plusminus for the game at plus-16.
Special guest
Taking in the Sixers game was the Boston Strangler himself: Andrew Toney. Toney has made Atlanta his home for the past 24 years but when I asked, "Oh, so this is home? He said, I am from Birmingham, Ala. smiling and pointing to his Alabama baseball cap.
You have to have pride for the tide, he said.
Whats next
The Sixers will take Super Bowl Sunday as a day of rest before playing four games again next week beginning with the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday. It is always fun when Kobe Bryant returns to Philadelphia.E-mail Dei Lynam at dlynam@comcastsportsnet.com