76ers 82 - 79 Nets
Final
  for this game

76ers-Nets Preview

Nov 10, 2009 - 10:00 PM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Philadelphia (3-4) at New Jersey (0-7), 7:30 p.m. EDT

Most teams have had an easy time handling New Jersey. The Philadelphia 76ers, though, know it would be a mistake to take the short-handed Nets lightly.

Losers of two straight, the 76ers look to improve on their last performance against the winless Nets as the Atlantic Division rivals meet Wednesday night.

Philadelphia (3-4) has struggled after winning three of four, losing 119-115 to Phoenix on Monday after an 88-81 defeat at Detroit the previous day.

"It's a little frustrating," 76ers forward Elton Brand said. "We need W's."

Philadelphia hasn't won since a 97-94 victory over New Jersey (0-7) on Friday night. The Nets have been outscored by an average of 11.9 points, but the 76ers needed a clutch effort from Andre Iguodala down the stretch.

Iguodala made a 3-pointer to give Philadelphia the lead for good with 2:02 remaining, and knocked the ball away from Terrence Williams before New Jersey could attempt a tying shot.

New Jersey, the only team in the league without a victory and off to its worst start in team history, was without six players.

Nets swingman Chris Douglas-Roberts missed the game due to flu-like symptoms. Team president Rod Thorn confirmed Saturday the second-year player tested positive for the H1N1 virus.

Douglas-Roberts had started every game for New Jersey, averaging 15.6 points and 4.8 rebounds. Nets coach Lawrence Frank doesn't know when he will return.

"All the measures are taken, now it's a matter of when he feels better," Frank said.

Suiting up the league-minimum eight players Saturday night, New Jersey likely ran out of gas in the fourth quarter of an 86-76 loss to Boston.

Guard Courtney Lee sat out with a strained left groin, but he could return to face Philadelphia. Lee, in his second season, is averaging 11.8 points.

Devin Harris (groin), Yi Jianlian (knee) and Jarvis Hayes (hamstring) remain out for the Nets. Harris is expected to miss another two weeks, Yi may be a month away from returning and Hayes could be sidelined for another week.

"Our guys got a great deal of pride and they're trying to win," Frank said. "It's a credit to the character in that locker room."

Frank will try to get the Nets to take advantage of a Sixers team that has had occasional problems defensively. Philadelphia has given up 110 points or more three times, going 1-2 after losing seven of nine such contests last season.

The Sixers, though, were able to bounce back offensively after shooting 43.6 percent versus the Pistons.

Iguodala scored 24 points, giving him at least 20 three times this season. The swingman didn't post three 20-point games until his 22nd contest in 2008-09.

Iguodala is averaging 22.0 points since being held to eight in a season-opening loss to Orlando on Oct. 28.






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