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Dominant second half powers Sixers over Raptors

Jan 8, 2012 - 5:23 AM Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Thaddeus Young scored 11 of his 12 points after halftime, and the 76ers used a huge final two quarters to rout Toronto, 97-62, at the Wells Fargo Center.

Andre Iguodala had 14 points and 10 rebounds for Philadelphia, which held a 56-28 scoring advantage in the second half. Jrue Holiday also scored 14 in the Sixers' fourth straight win. Their 5-2 start is their best since the 2000-01 season, when the Sixers won their first 10 games and went to the NBA Finals.

Andrea Bargnani ended with 21 points and 11 rebounds for the Raptors, who struggled by shooting 29.3 percent (12-of-41) in the final 24 minutes.

"Thad changed the whole game," Sixers coach Doug Collins said. "With his pick- and-roll defense, he absolutely changed the whole game with his speed."

Collins also said starting center Spencer Hawes left the game in the third quarter with a mid-back strain.

A jumper from Bargnani had the Raptors within 41-38 two minutes into the second half, but Young then replaced an ailing Hawes and the Sixers embarked on an 11-0 run. Holiday started the burst with a pull-up jumper and ended it with another bucket in a two-minute span.

Evan Turner's dunk, off a feed from Young, widened the gap to 71-46 with 1:35 left in the third, and the Sixers were on cruise control in the fourth. They were up 73-49 going into the final quarter.

"I thought in the first half our disposition was good. I thought in the third it was more mental and physical fatigue," Raptors coach Dwane Casey said.

The Sixers, who returned to the Wells Fargo Center less than 24 hours after winning their home opener against Detroit Friday night, led 19-16 after a back-and-forth opening quarter. The hosts expanded the cushion to 41-31 late in the second, and the Raptors scored the final three points of the period.

Game Notes

With 4:11 left in the second quarter, Toronto's Amir Johnson fouled Elton Brand by grabbing and ripping the back of his jersey. Brand donned a new jersey courtside prior to shooting his second attempt...The Sixers have won three straight over Toronto for first time since March 25- December 18, 2005 (4 games)...Johnson had 12 points and 14 rebounds.