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After pair of late losses, 76ers host Pacers

Feb 5, 2009 - 11:17 AM Indiana (19-30) at Philadelphia (23-24) 7:00 p.m. EST

PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- The Philadelphia 76ers are having a hard time sealing victories.

After a pair of disappointing losses, the 76ers try to snap their slide when they host the Indiana Pacers on Thursday.

Philadelphia was poised to earn its third straight win when it carried a 10-point lead into the fourth quarter during Saturday's contest against the New Jersey Nets. However, the 76ers missed their final 18 attempts from the field and scored just eight points in the fourth quarter, enduring an 85-83 setback.

The team was in position to end the Boston Celtics' 11-game win streak on Tuesday as Philadelphia held the ball and ran the shot clock down before Andre Iguodala hit a pull-up jumper from the top of the key to make it 99-97 with 6.8 seconds left.

But, Ray Allen, who hit a 3-pointer from the left wing with 30 seconds to play to tie the game, 97-97, was freed up by a pick from Glen Davis and buried a three to give the Celtics a 100-99 lead with a half-second to go.

The 76ers threw an inbounds pass toward the rim on the final play, but it was knocked away and time expired.

"We just have to get a little better at finishing every game off, especially when we have the lead coming down the stretch," Philadelphia coach Tony DiLeo said.

A visit from the Pacers should help get the 76ers back on track.

Despite eclipsing 110 points in each of its last two games, Indiana has nothing to show for it. Following a 122-113 loss to the New York Knicks on Saturday, the Pacers dropped a 116-111 decision to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday.