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76ers wrap up trek in Houston

Feb 16, 2011 - 4:15 PM (Sports Network) - The Philadelphia 76ers hope to head into the All-Star break on a winning note when they invade south Texas this evening to take on the Houston Rockets.

The Sixers, who have won five of their last six against Houston, come into tonight's contest on a down note thanks in large part to an awful first quarter in Memphis on Tuesday. Philadelphia could only manage a season-low 10 points in the first frame against the Grizzlies and trailed by 16 after one en route to a 102-91 setback.

Thaddeus Young led Philadelphia with a game-high 23 points in a reserve role, and Lou Williams added 18 points, five boards and four assists as the Sixers lost in Memphis for the first time since January of 2007 and fell to 1-1 on a three-game road trip. Elton Brand finished with 13 points and eight boards while Jrue Holiday posted 10 points and five assists in the loss.

"This is one of the most aggressive teams we've played just because the lineups they put in the game are so strong," Young said. "They try to outmuscle you and out-quick you to everything. Those guys just outhustled us."

The Sixers, who are currently seventh in the Eastern Conference playoff hunt, have lost 17 of their last 18 -- including six straight -- when allowing 100 points-or-more.

Houston, on the other hand, improved to 1-2 on a four-game homestand Monday when Courtney Lee was one of seven Rockets in double figures, ending with a team-high 22 points behind five three-pointers, as Houston survived a slow start to down the Nuggets, 121-102.

The Rockets trailed by 13 after the first quarter, then proceeded to outscore the Nuggets by 33 points over the next two frames to pull away for the win.

Aaron Brooks tallied 18 points and fellow reserve Chase Budinger chipped in 15 to help end a two-game skid. Shane Battier totaled 17 points and five assists in the lopsided decision.

"We wanted to bring energy," Lee said of Houston's reserves. "Once you start to do that, you start having fun. And once you have fun, shots start falling and things start going your way."