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Miller, Smith could make debut with Sixers vs. Knicks

Dec 23, 2006 - 3:16 PM New York (12-17) at Philadelphia (6-19) 7:30 pm EST

PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- With the end of a lengthy losing streak and two new players on the horizon, things are starting to look better for the Philadelphia 76ers.

Andre Miller and Joe Smith are expected to be available for their first game with Philadelphia when the 76ers host the New York Knicks on Saturday.

The two players acquired in the blockbuster trade which sent four-time scoring champion Allen Iverson to the Denver Nuggets, Miller and Smith were not in the lineup Friday when the Sixers snapped their 12-game skid with a 98-83 triumph at Boston.

Andre Iguodala made 11-of-15 shots and scored a career-high 31 points while Samuel Dalembert scored 14 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for Philadelphia, which ended its longest losing streak since the 1996-97 campaign.

Miller, who averages 13.0 points and 9.1 assists, scored 27 points in his final game with the Nuggets, a 117-108 win over the Washington Wizards on Monday.

Smith saw limited action with the Nuggets and is averaging a career-low 5.1 points. In his last contest, he scored six points in 16 minutes against the Wizards.

New York is also starting to show signs of life after winning a season-high three straight contests. However, the Knicks are just 5-7 on the road.

Jamal Crawford scored 30 points, Eddy Curry added 20 and Stephon Marbury 19 for New York, which posted a 57-36 rebounding advantage in Friday's 103-92 victory over the Chicago Bulls.