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Holiday, Sixers topple Spurs

Feb 12, 2011 - 3:54 AM Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Jrue Holiday scored 27 points, Elton Brand had 17 rebounds and the Philadelphia 76ers held on for a 77-71 victory Friday over the San Antonio Spurs.

Holiday had 13 points in the first quarter to stake the Sixers to an early lead, and he buried four straight free throws at the end of the game to finish off their upset of the NBA's top team.

Spencer Hawes added 13 points and Brand scored eight as Philadelphia won for the fifth time in seven games, and for the fourth straight time at home against the Spurs.

Tim Duncan had 16 points and 13 rebounds for the Spurs, who had a four-game winning streak snapped and fell to 4-2 on their nine-game rodeo road trip.

The Sixers held the other four San Antonio starters to single digits: Tony Parker scored nine points, Manu Ginobili and DeJuan Blair had eight apiece, and Richard Jefferson scored three.

The Spurs shot just 33 percent, turned the ball over 16 times and gave up 21 fast break points in a win Philadelphia head coach Doug Collins called "marvelous."

"What an incredible display by our guys defensively tonight," said Collins. "I have never been more proud."

The Sixers turned up the defense late and held the Spurs to their lowest point total since they scored 64 against Utah on April 4, 2008. San Antonio head coach Gregg Popovich bristled at the suggestion his team was fatigued from its long road trip.

"Just because you lose doesn't mean you're fatigued. We lost by a few points and that doesn't mean we had no effort and they had effort," Popovich said. "Both teams busted their a--. Neither team shot well, and in the end they made plays."

Holiday hit a key three-pointer late in the fourth quarter, capping an 8-0 spurt that gave Philadelphia a 71-67 lead. The Spurs twice cut their deficit to two, the last time on Duncan's layup, but could never get closer.

One sloppy possession following a time out in the final minute ended with Ginobili, guarded tight, air-balling a leaner from near the top of the key. Gary Neal then clanked a three-point attempt off the front of the rim on the Spurs' next trip down the court.

Holiday made two free throws after both possessions, sealing the win.

"Our guys, late in the game, I think you could see their growth," said Collins, whose team is headed out on the road for a three-game trip against Minnesota, Memphis and Houston.

San Antonio's previous season-low in points this season came in a 96-72 loss in New Orleans on January 22.

"A marvelous win for our team," said Collins. "[The Spurs] never take a night off. They don't lose to sub-.500 teams."

Sparked by Holiday's 13 points, the Sixers led by as many as eight early on and carried a 27-22 lead into the second.

The Spurs didn't take their first lead until the final minute of the first half, when Duncan hit two free throws at the end of a 10-2 run to make it 44-42.

Duncan had eight points in the second quarter and the teams were tied 46-46 at the break. The Sixers then carried a 60-58 lead into the fourth quarter.

Game Notes

The Sixers shot 35 percent...San Antonio's road trip will wrap up with visits to Washington, New Jersey and Chicago. They are knocked out of their building every year by the rodeo.