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Sixers continue trek against Warriors

Dec 27, 2010 - 4:16 PM (Sports Network) - The Philadelphia 76ers will resume the west coast portion of their season-long eight-game road trip tonight in Oakland when they take on Monta Ellis and the Golden State Warriors.

The Sixers improved to 2-2 on the lengthy trek in the Rocky Mountains on Sunday when Jodie Meeks hit a deep three with 47.1 seconds remaining to cap a strong fourth quarter, as Philadelphia topped the Denver Nuggets, 95-89.

Jrue Holiday finished with 22 points while Elton Brand notched a double-double with 16 points and 17 rebounds. Meeks ended with 17 points for the Sixers, who snapped a two-game skid and will finish their trip with visits to Phoenix, the LA Lakers and New Orleans after tonight's game.

"Once again our defense gave us a chance," Philadelphia coach Doug Collins said. "We won this game today shooting under 40 percent from the floor, 3- of-14 from three, missing 12 free throws."

The Sixers earned the win despite toiling without sixth man Lou Williams, who is in Philadelphia to witness the birth of his daughter and will also miss tonight's contest.

The Warriors, meanwhile, won their second straight game on Christmas Day when Monta Ellis scored 39 points and David Lee added 21 to help Golden State rally for a 109-102 win over the Portland Trail Blazers.

A layup from LaMarcus Aldridge expanded Portland's lead to 97-91 with just over five minutes left in that one, but the Warriors responded with a dominating 16-2 burst. Ellis had half of those points, as Golden State won its second in a row for the first time since November 8 and 10 against Toronto and New York.

Dorell Wright had 16 points and eight rebounds, and played a key role in Golden State's comeback. The Warriors won despite a 2-for-15 shooting performance from Stephen Curry, who was held to four points, but he did have a season-best 11 assists. Curry had missed the last six games with a sprained right ankle.

"Once we get our whole team back it's going to be different," Ellis said. "We just have to hold it down until we get some key players back. Steph came back, hopefully Andris (Biedrins) will come back [soon]. We're going to turn it around."

Biedrins is listed as questionable for tonight's contest but is more likely to return on Golden State's five-game road trip that begins after tonight's game.

The Sixers swept the home-and-home series between the two clubs a year ago with Holiday scoring 15 points and dishing out six assists in both meetings as a rookie. Philly, however, is 2-7 in its last nine at Oakland.