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Sixers looking for bigger and better playoff spot

Apr 5, 2009 - 3:35 AM By Matt Beardmore Stats Writer

Philadelphia (40-35) at New Jersey (31-45), 7:30 p.m. EDT

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (AP) -- Now that it has a postseason spot locked up, Philadelphia can focus on securing the fourth seed and home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

The 76ers attempt to take the next step toward that goal Saturday night as they visit a struggling New Jersey Nets team going for its first season sweep in the history of this series.

Philadelphia (40-35) won for the 10th time in 14 games Saturday with a 95-90 victory over Detroit. In doing so, the Sixers clinched a playoff spot in front of their home fans.

"This game was important," point guard Andre Miller said. "We needed to win. The playoff clinch is a plus, but we definitely needed this home win before we went on this road trip. That's why we wanted to stay on the court. We worked hard to get to this point."

Philadelphia, looking for its fourth straight victory overall as it opens a three-game trip, is in a virtual tie with Miami for the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference and trails Atlanta by two games for the fourth spot.

Miller played the entire second half Saturday - as did teammate Andre Iguodala - and recorded his second triple-double of the season with 21 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds. Miller is averaging 19.0 points and 11.0 assists during the 76ers' three-game winning streak.

He had 17 points, 10 assists and five boards in a 98-96 loss in New Jersey on Feb. 23, when point guard Devin Harris' 47-foot game-winner at the buzzer improved New Jersey to 3-0 against the 76ers this season.

Iguodala, who was guarding Harris on that final shot, has definitely put that loss and Philadelphia's 13-20 start to the season behind him. He matched a season high with 31 points and grabbed nine rebounds in Saturday's playoff-clinching victory.

"It's been a roller-coaster, but we showed that we could overcome a lot of different situations," Iguodala said. "We've been able to find a way, and it's been sweet the way it's gone from being counted out to getting right back into position. We just have to maintain our spot. We said we have to finish out the season strong. That's a sign of our team maturing and getting better."

New Jersey, meanwhile, will be officially eliminated from postseason play for the second straight season if it falls to the 76ers and Detroit defeats Charlotte on Sunday. The Nets (31-45), though, are not giving up hope.

"I want to do whatever I can do," Vince Carter said after Saturday's 103-94 loss to Chicago.

Playing with a sore left Achilles' tendon, Carter shot just 2 of 10 from the field and scored four points as the Nets lost for the sixth time in seven games.

New Jersey has likely found its center of the future in Brook Lopez. The rookie posted his 16th double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds in Saturday's defeat.

Lopez is averaging 12.3 points and 11.0 rebounds in the three wins over Philadelphia.