Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Sixers continue road trip in Phoenix

The Sixers' Andre Iguodala
The Phoenix Suns hope to halt a three-game skid when they open a stretch of five of six games at the US Airways Center by welcoming the road-weary Philadelphia 76ers to the desert.

Clippers rookie star Blake Griffin posted his 18th straight double-double with 28 points and 12 rebounds before fouling out on Sunday, as Los Angeles snapped a nine-game losing streak to the Suns with a 108-103 victory at Staples Center.

Mickael Pietrus netted a team-high 25 points for Phoenix, which has lost seven of its last nine contests overall. Steve Nash registered a double-double with 21 points and 15 assists, and Grant Hill poured in 19 points in defeat.

"They did a good job defensively against us," Suns head coach Alvin Gentry said about the Clippers. "They're getting better. We're just not getting quality play."

Phoenix, which is 7-6 at home on the year, hopes to get a boost tonight with the debut of Vince Carter. The former All-Star has missed all four games with a sore knee since being acquired by the Suns in a six-player trade with Orlando on Dec. 18

The Sixers, meanwhile, fell to 2-3 on their season-long eight-game trek Monday in Oakland when Dorell Wright led a balanced Golden State attack with 28 points, as the Warriors used precise long-distance shooting to beat Philadelphia, 110-95, at Oracle Arena.

Wright went 5-of-7 from three-point range, part of a 15-of-23 effort for the Warriors.

Jrue Holiday scored 23 to go with 11 assists for the Sixers, who were without swingman Andre Iguodala and sixth man Lou Williams. Iguodala sat out due to tendinitis in his right Achilles, an injury that caused him to miss several games earlier in the season, while Williams was excused to witness the birth of his daughter.

Jodie Meeks had 19 points and Elton Brand finished with 16 points and 16 rebounds in defeat. Spencer Hawes pulled down 12 rebounds.

Iguodala and Williams could both be back for tonight's contest.

The Suns swept the home-and-home series between the two clubs a year ago and have traditionally dominated the Sixers in Phoenix, winning 20 of the last 23 games in the series on their home floor.

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