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Sixers halt skid, top Pistons

Feb 29, 2012 - 5:07 AM Auburn Hills, MI (Sports Network) - Thaddeus Young had 20 points and eight rebounds on Tuesday and the 76ers cruised to a 97-68 win over the Pistons.

Lou Williams added 13 points and seven assists for the Sixers, who halted a season-long five-game losing streak. They will host the Western Conference- leading Thunder on Wednesday.

"Any time Thad starts getting back, spinning and fading away, we know he has fresh legs," said Williams. "He had the most energy out of everybody tonight."

Philadelphia coach Doug Collins left during the fourth quarter due to flu-like symptoms. Andre Iguodala and Jodie Meeks had 12 points apiece and Elton Brand returned from a two-game absence with 10 points, three assists and three blocks.

"I think I got dehydrated," said Collins. "I got a little light-headed, I felt like I was getting that flu feeling," said Collins. "It's all good."

Greg Monroe had 20 points and eight rebounds to pace the Pistons, losers of three straight. Rodney Stuckey added 17 points.

The Sixers won every quarter. They were up 22-20 after one, then opened the second with an 11-0 run to create space.

Young had five points during the burst and Evan Turner capped it with a short jumper for a 33-20 margin. Tayshaun Prince responded with a hook shot in the paint but Philadelphia continued to surge ahead, leading by as many as 17 in the quarter before taking a 50-34 advantage into the break.

As they did in the second, the Sixers started the third strong. They opened with a 15-5 run, taking a 65-39 lead on Brand's 14-footer at the midway point of the quarter.

The Pistons never recovered. The margin was 75-53 entering the fourth and it reached as high as 34 points before the final buzzer sounded.

"We just got off to a slow start, turned the ball over and it was a trickle down effect," said Prince. "The rest was history."

Game Notes

Detroit shot just 31.6 percent from the field...The Sixers have failed to reach 100 points in 18 straight games -- their longest such streak since 25 consecutive outings from November 15, 2003-January 5, 2004...Brand missed the previous two games with a sprained thumb...On Monday, Philadelphia announced that center Spencer Hawes will miss at least another two weeks with a strained Achilles.