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76ers eye playoff berth with Nets in town

Apr 1, 2011 - 3:54 PM (Sports Network) - What a difference a year makes.

The Philadelphia 76ers were a moribund franchise after finishing 27-55 in 2009-10, the team's worst record since 1996-97, under lightly-regarded coach Eddie Jordan.

Now, with the well-respected Doug Collins at the controls, the Sixers hope to wrap up an Eastern Conference postseason berth in the Cradle of Liberty tonight when they host the New Jersey Nets at Wells Fargo Center.

The Sixers started just 3-13 this season but have gone 36-23 since, the East's fourth-best record over that span and the club's magic number for the playoffs is just one. A win tonight by Philadelphia or a loss by Charlotte in Orlando will send Collins' club to the big dance.

The Sixers reached the cusp of the postseason on Wednesday when Jrue Holiday continued his progression as a threat both scoring and distributing, logging 24 points and 12 assists to carry Philadelphia in a 108-97 victory over the Houston Rockets.

Thaddeus Young came off the bench and posted 22 points with nine rebounds, while Spencer Hawes and Jodie Meeks each netted 12 points for the Sixers, who were coming off Monday's upset of Chicago.

"This Houston team has been playing great, great basketball so that was a very quality win for us tonight," Sixers head coach Doug Collins said. "One step closer, 39 wins now, which is fabulous."

The Nets, meanwhile, dropped their fourth straight on Wednesday in Madison Square Garden when Carmelo Anthony finished with 39 points for the second straight game, and New York Knicks slipped past New Jersey, 120-116.

Anthony Morrow paced the Nets with 30 points. Brook Lopez posted 26 and nine rebounds while Deron Williams, returning from a six-game absence due to a strained tendon in his right wrist, scored 22 points, dished out eight assists and grabbed eight rebounds in the loss.

"It's frustrating," Williams told the Nets' website. "But we had some good things come out of it. It's all just a process for us. Everybody is being evaluated right now. Moving forward these are just good games to be a part of."

The Sixers have won seven straight over New Jersey and will be aiming to sweep the season series for a second consecutive campaign tonight.