Friday, March 11, 2011
Posted: 9:20 p.m.Updated: March 12, 1:21 a.m.
By Dei Lynam
CSNPhilly.com
BOX SCORE
Two nights ago, Andre Iguodala drove to the basket with 1.9 seconds remaining in regulation and the game tied at 101. He was called for an offensive foul and an overtime loss followed to the Thunder.
With 30.9 seconds remaining against the Celtics, Doug Collins again put the ball in the hands of No. 9. Iguodala blew past Sasha Pavlovic and Kevin Garnett came over with the help defense, only Iguodala delivered a scoop lay-up with 12.5 seconds left.
K.G. does a great job of stepping up early on defense, Iguodala said. So I had just enough space to get the shot off.
That basket gave the Sixers a five-point cushion which proved to be enough in an 89-86 win over the Celtics.
NBA
What a game. Our guys were so tough at the end. I dont even know what to say, Doug Collins said with his team again bouncing back from a tough overtime loss to Oklahoma City. The Sixers have not lost back to back games since Jan. 19 and 20.
When asked to explain this young teams ability to respond after heartbreaking losses no matter how tough the next opponent, Jrue Holiday pointed to the squads camaraderie.
I think its the journey that we are on, Holiday said. We are all happy, we are all playing well, we all love each other and we love the coach. After shootaround we said to each other, We dont lose two in a row at home. At the same time, we love playing against the Celtics because we always play well. I mean this is fun.
The Sixers are now 34-31 while Boston drops to 46-17. Collins wanted no part of talking about Fridays game possibly foreshadowing what the postseason might hold, but he was very clear about why he is so enjoying his job.
I was under orders that if I was going to do it again I had to have fun doing it, Collins said of his return to coaching after eight seasons away from the sideline. If not, dont do it my family said.
I love them (players). They are the nicest group of men I have ever been around as a team. Absolutely, they are all for one. They are terrific. I love being with them every second.
The coach also loved his teams defensive effort. The Sixers did an excellent job holding Bostons Big Four in check and overall the Celtics, who on the season shoot a league-best 49 percent from the floor. The Celtics connected on just 42 percent of their shots on Friday.
It kind of looked like they wanted to get a three, to hit that dagger on us to get them right back in the game, Iguodala said of the Sixers fourth quarter defense. Jodie Meeks did a good job of staying with Ray (Allen). He forced him to take a tough shot and Elton (Brand) did a wonderful job getting out on K.G.
Allen scored just five points, all coming in the fourth quarter, while Paul Pierce was limited to 11 and had no field goals in the final 12 minutes. Garnett finished with 14 points and Rajon Rondo was tame with 12 points and only five assists.
Tonight, we got defensive stops and did what we had to do to win, Collins stressed. A big key for us tonight was Ray Allens threes. He had one.
It was a playoff atmosphere in the Wells Fargo Center Friday night with fans cheering as loud for the home team as they did the visiting Celtics. Boston had won two previous meetings against the Sixers this season by a combined five points.
The third meeting was equally well-played and like the Dec. 22 meeting it was a low-scoring affair. The Sixers, who led by as many as 10, trailed 76-75 with eight minutes to play after Jeff Green knocked down a 15-foot jumper. It was the Celtics first lead since they led 10-9 in the first quarter.
From that point on, the two teams were on the seesaw with six fourth-quarter lead changes.
The home team was able to come up with some key defensive stops down the stretch, including a tremendous block by Holiday on Allen with a little more than three minutes to play.
This was not a game, however, where the Sixers could get out and run which is their strength. The Celtics make it their business to get back on defense. Still, Holiday knew exactly what his coach wanted if the transition game wasnt therescore early in the shot clock.
Get in pick-and-roll, move the ball side to side, Holiday said after scoring nine points and dishing out seven assists. When we have them where they are kind of scrambling on defense, where they cant get set and again they do have a veteran team. Im not saying they are old or anything, but making them spend more energy than they want to defensively is key.
The Sixers had their usual well-balanced scoring attack with five guys finishing in double figures.
Iguodala flirted with another triple double with 13 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. Spencer Hawes and Brand led the way, each scoring 14 points and for Brand it was the perfect way to spend his 32nd birthday.
Feels good to be on the winning side of this battle, Brand said, knowing that the previous two meetings with Boston were played similarly, only the Celtics came out on top.
Green, who was acquired by the Celtics the day of the trade deadline from Oklahoma City, led all scorers with 18 points coming off the bench for Doc Rivers.
The Sixers now head out for a five-game road trip that begins in Milwaukee on Saturday night.
E-mail Dei Lynam at dlynam@comcastsportsnet.com