76ers 103 - 87 Cavaliers
Final
  for this game

Holiday leads Sixers past Cavaliers

Apr 19, 2012 - 3:18 AM Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) - Jrue Holiday went 6-for-6 from three-point range en route to 24 points as the 76ers defeated the Cavaliers, 103-87, at Quicken Loans Arena on Wednesday.

Andre Iguodala recorded a double-double with 19 points and 13 rebounds, while Elton Brand and Thaddeus Young finished with 12 points apiece as Philadelphia snapped a three-game skid.

The Sixers now own a 2 1/2 game lead over Milwaukee for the eighth and final playoff spot in the East after the Bucks lost to the Wizards on Wednesday.

Kyrie Irving returned for the Cavaliers after a nine-game absence, but scored just nine points. Samardo Samuels and Lester Hudson tallied 15 points apiece for the Cavs, who were swept by the Sixers for the first time since losing all three matchups in 2004-05.

"It definitely felt good being out there with my teammates and actually competing," said Irving. "Things didn't go the way I wanted, but it happens. It felt good just to be back out there."

With the game tied at 57-57 in the third, Cleveland had a chance to take it's first lead since the first quarter but missed three straight field goals before Holiday buried a three-pointer to ignite a 24-2 surge.

Holiday connected on four triples in the run as the Sixers scored 19 unanswered points and took a commanding 81-59 advantage with 1:22 left in the third.

Holiday poured in 19 points overall in the third and finished 5-for-5 from long range in the frame to help the Sixers take an 84-66 lead into the fourth.

Philadelphia led by as many as 26 in the fourth and the Cavs never threatened down the stretch.

"I think, with our team, we're kind of passive," admitted Holiday. "Guys on the team want to make the extra pass and sometimes you do have to be a little selfish."

A tightly contested first frame found the teams locked at 22-22 before the Sixers scored the final six of the quarter to take a 28-22 edge into the second.

Cleveland remained close throughout the second, pulling within one on three different occasions, but the Sixers never surrendered their lead and took a 53-49 advantage into the locker room.

Game Notes

Philadelphia will continue its five-game road trip to finish out the year, as the team travels to Indiana on Saturday...Cleveland will host the Knicks on Friday...The Sixers outrebounded the Cavs 46-33 but were outscored in the paint 44-36.






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