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Sixers vie to bounce back against Clippers

Mar 16, 2011 - 2:59 PM (Sports Network) - The Philadelphia 76ers hope to slam the brakes on what is turning out to be a rather rough road trip when they meet the Los Angeles Clippers tonight at Staples Center.

The playoff-hopeful Sixers have started their five-game trek by losing two seemingly winnable games, a blowout setback in Milwaukee and a 112-107 overtime loss to the struggling Jazz on Monday.

Andre Iguodala finished with 23 points, six rebounds and six assists for the Sixers, who fell short against Utah despite coming back from a 21-point deficit. Lou Williams chipped in 22 points for Philadelphia, which was trying to sweep the home-and-home season series with the Jazz for the first time since the 1987-88 season.

Elton Brand and Jodie Meeks ended with 19 and 17 points, respectively, in defeat.

"We played a little harder and played with some heart," Williams said. "They did a really good job of making shots in that first half and we were letting them do whatever they wanted to do and we came out in that second half and were just a lot more aggressive and were able to claw our way back in and you know just fell short."

Philadelphia, which is just 12-22 as the visitor on the season, will finish its trek with visits to Sacramento and Portland after tonight's game.

The Clippers, who are opening a four-game homestand tonight, have been playing solid basketball recently but lost for the second time in seven tries on Monday in Memphis when Zach Randolph led the way with 30 points and 12 rebounds, as the Grizzlies handled Los Angeles, 105-82.

Eric Bledsoe, getting extra minutes in the absence of Eric Gordon, had a team- best 19 points, while Chris Kaman went for 14 for the Clippers, who had won five of six coming into the contest. Blake Griffin, one of just four NBA players averaging at least 20.0 points and 10.0 rebounds, finished with a season-low eight points and nine boards.

"We missed some easy ones tonight," said Griffin. "It was just kinda like we were just out there, not really doing much of anything."

Gordon, who is averaging 23.7 points per game, has missed five straight games since aggravating a right wrist injury and LA is just 7-18 when he is out of the lineup.

Philadelphia snapped a two-game slide against the Clips with a 105-91 win in the City of Brotherly Love back on Dec. 15.