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Green, Miller carry 76ers to third straight win

Dec 11, 2007 - 4:03 AM PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- Things are starting to look up for the Philadelphia 76ers.

Willie Green scored 20 points and Andre Miller chipped in 17 and 12 assists as the Sixers posted their first three-game winning streak with Monday's 100-88 victory over the Houston Rockets.

It is the first time the 76ers have won three straight games since beating Atlanta, Indiana and Boston in April.

"These last three games have been good wins for us," Green said. "It was a well played game by everybody on the team. We all came in and played basketball. It was a great win."

Bonzi Wells' layup helped the Rockets close the gap to 39-37 with 5:56 remaining in the second quarter before the Sixers pulled away for good.

Andre Iguodala scored on a dunk and Green drained a 3-pointer, sparking an impressive 17-5 surge to end the first half after the Rockets pulled within 39-37 with six minutes left on a layup by Bonzi Wells. Miller had a hand in 13 points during the burst as the 76ers grabbed a 56-42 edge at the break.

"We got stops and we got a hand on some loose balls," Iguodala said. "We were getting easy baskets down the court. We pushed the ball up the floor. Miller found some open guys and Green attacked the basket. Everyone just seemed to be in an offensive groove. Nobody seems to in a funk right now."

Monday's convincing win was sweet revenge for Philadelphia, which dropped a 124-74 decision here - worst home loss in franchise history - on March 18.

"They beat us by close to 50 the last time here," Green said. "This game we played close attention to detail. The guys came in and fought hard all game."

Philadelphia continued to pour it on in the third quarter behind a 24-7 run to open the second half that led to an 80-49 bulge with 4:24 left.

"It was a lot of hard work that we've been doing in practice," Green said. "We wanted to come out in the third quarter and really put pressure on those guys. We built a big lead and we just kept it."

"We got layups and (Iguodala) got a couple of dunks and before you know it, we had that 30-point lead," 76ers guard Kyle Korver said. "Our halfcourt offense has been much better and he have been running a lot. That has made it easier to score."

The Rockets never recovered thereafter.

"They were quicker in every area of the game," Rockets coach Rick Adelman said. "We made a ton of mental mistakes defensively. You got to play with energy and you got to play with intelligence and we didn't do either one."

Combined with the setback, Houston lost swingman Tracy McGrady in the third quarter due to a sprained right ankle. He netted all 12 of his points in the opening period.

"He tweaked it," Adelman said. "He said that he was done but, I was getting ready to take him out of the game anyway. He wasn't moving very well. We'll have to wait and see."

Wells had 24 points and 10 rebounds off the bench and Yao Ming was held to just 12 on 3-of-11 shooting for the Rockets, who have dropped four of their last five road games.