• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

76ers, Knicks begin home-and-home set in Philly

Feb 4, 2011 - 3:58 PM (Sports Network) - Atlantic Division rivals kick off a home-and-home weekend set Friday when the New York Knicks make the quick trek down I-95 to face the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center.

The Knicks, who lead the Sixers by three games for the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference playoff standings, will then host Philadelphia at Madison Square Garden on Sunday.

The resurgent Sixers, who have won 14 of their last 18 on their home floor, won their second straight contest on Wednesday in Newark when emerging second- year point guard Jrue Holiday recorded his first career triple-double with 11 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds as Philadelphia topped the New Jersey Nets, 106-92.

Lou Williams added 26 points off the bench for the Sixers, who have won five of six overall. Andre Iguodala chipped in 16 points, while Elton Brand and Jodie Meeks each tallied 15 points for Philadelphia, which improved to 7-18 on the road this season. Brand also grabbed 10 rebounds.

"Jrue had his first triple-double so we gave him the game ball," Sixers coach Doug Collins said. "Elton Brand got some big rebounds for us. Lou Williams came off the bench and did a great job for us. A lot of good stuff for us."

The Knicks, meanwhile, lost for the second time in three games on Wednesday when Dirk Nowitzki finished with 29 points and 11 rebounds, leading the Dallas Mavericks to a 113-97 victory over New York in Gotham.

Danilo Gallinari netted 27 points to lead the Knicks, who have dropped eight of 11 overall. Toney Douglas added 22 points off the bench and All-Star Amare Stoudemire totaled 21.

"We didn't come out with great energy in the third quarter," Stoudemire said. "They pretty much got what they wanted. They got open shots and they capitalized on them."

Knicks forward Wilson Chandler, who is averaging 16.8 points and 6.1 rebounds per game, is expected back in the lineup tonight after missing the previous three games with a sore left calf.

New York, which has dropped five straight on the road, snapped a nine-game skid in Philly by winning a pair of games there last season. The Sixers, however, won the only matchup between the clubs so far this season, a 106-96 decision at MSG on Nov. 7.