Heat 99 - 79 76ers
Final
  for this game

Sixers try to solve Heat in Philly

Feb 3, 2012 - 3:58 PM (Sports Network) - The Philadelphia 76ers may not possess the star power that Miami Heat bring to the court, but they have been every bit as good as their much-hyped counterparts in the early going this season.

Tonight, the Sixers eye a fifth straight win when they welcome Miami to the Wells Fargo Center.

Armed without a true superstar, Philadelphia continued to get help from everywhere on Wednesday against Chicago, as its bench sparked an 18-4 run in the opening quarter, giving it a lead it would not relinquish in a 98-82 win over the Bulls.

Andre Iguodala filled the stat sheet with 19 points, nine rebounds, four assists and two steals while Jrue Holiday added 17 points and five assists for the Sixers, who got 50 points from their reserves and held a commanding 75-55 lead after three quarters.

"That was a tremendous game our guys played," Philadelphia head coach Doug Collins said. "Defensively, we were so good. When you play against Derrick Rose you have to do everything in your power to try and keep him away from that basket and out of the paint."

Philadelphia may not have a player who averages 16 points per game, but it is a squad that has won by 10-plus points 14 times this season and is outscoring opponents by a league-best 11.6 ppg. It's a defensive-minded group that has held opponents below 90 points in four straight contests and 15 times of the season (14-1).

The Sixers, who will be concluding a seven-game stretch at home, have been even better in their building, where they are a terrific 12-2 on the season.

"Play the teams in front you," the coach recently said. "It doesn't matter if you get [wins] in April, February, March, doesn't matter. Win at home and that's what we've got to keep doing."

Miami, meanwhile, had a five-game winning streak stopped on Wednesday in a 105-97 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.

LeBron James scored a season-high 40 points, including 24 in the first quarter, but it was not enough for the Heat to avoid falling for only the second time in their last 10 games.

"We didn't execute our offense," Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra said. "Our carelessness with the ball allowed them to get back in the game."

Miami has won its last eight regular season meetings over the Sixers, including a 113-89 win back on January 21.






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