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Williams leads balanced attack, Sixers throttle Hawks

Feb 9, 2011 - 3:31 AM Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Lou Williams scored 20 points in his return to his hometown as Philadelphia thumped Atlanta, 117-83, at Philips Arena.

Elton Brand scored 17 points and Thaddeus Young added 16 as six players scored in double figures for the Sixers, who led from start to finish to win for a fourth time in their last five games and for a seventh time in nine outings.

Jodie Meeks supplied 16 points while Jrue Holiday added 15 and Andre Iguodala donated 11 to go along with eight assist and seven rebounds in Philly's most lopsided victory of the season.

"We came out and had a real sense of purpose," Philadelphia head coach Doug Collins said. "Our defense was great and we got in the open court. I thought Iguodala did a magnificent job on Joe Johnson early in the game, so he never got going. Our whole thing was, if we get some stops, we thought our speed would really hurt them and it did."

Josh Smith totaled 16 points, seven assists and five rebounds while Marvin Williams provided 10 points and 10 caroms for the Hawks, who had a three-game win streak halted.

"I wish we could have gotten off to a better start," said Johnson, who scored six points on 3-of-8 shooting. "This team has given us problems for the past couple years. As long as I can remember, every time they come in this building they always jump out to a quick, early lead on us. Unfortunately, tonight, we never bounced back or regrouped."

Atlanta forward Al Horford missed his second straight game with back soreness suffered in Friday's win over the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Sixers opened up a 15-5 lead midway through the first quarter and extended the margin to 25-9 on a Holiday layup with just under three minutes left in the period.

Philadelphia shot a scorching 14-for-23 (61 percent) in moving out to a 33-15 advantage after the first 12 minutes and were never threatened from there.

Williams hit a turnaround jumper that lengthened the lead to 50-23 halfway through the second stanza. Two Brand foul shots made it 63-31 with 36 ticks remaining before the teams traded buckets leading up to the intermission.

The visitors shot even better in the second quarter, making 13-for-19, to end the half connecting on 64.3 percent of their shots.

Philadelphia led by as many as 36 and the Hawks never got closer than 28 during the entire second half.

Game Notes

The Sixers finished shooting 54.4 percent in their biggest win since a 34- point decision over Sacramento on November 3, 2008...Williams was 8-of-13 from the floor while Holiday was 6-for-8 and Brand 5-for-6...Evan Turner chipped in with eight points, eight boards and seven helpers off the bench in the win while Meeks and Young each grabbed eight rebounds...Atlanta shot only 41 percent in defeat, including 3-of-18 from beyond the arc...Damien Wilkins added 12 points and Jeff Teague scored 10 in defeat.