Suns-76ers Preview

By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN
Posted Nov 24 2012 11:49PM

Markieff Morris has joined the Phoenix Suns' starting lineup just in time for his first game in his hometown.

The second-year forward has been impressive in his first two starts of the season heading into Sunday night's opener of a six-game trip against the Philadelphia 76ers.

Coach Alvin Gentry replaced Jared Dudley with Morris this week and Phoenix (6-7) has won both games since that change. Morris made 9 of 13 shots for 19 points Wednesday in a 114-87 rout of Portland and was 9 of 12 for a career-high 23 on Friday in a 111-108 overtime victory over New Orleans.

"I mean it's different, it's a little different, but coach put it on me to be a starter," Morris said. "You know I have been waiting to be a starter and I need to produce and that is what I am doing."

The Philly native came off the bench for nine points in his second career game when he faced the 76ers at home as a rookie last Dec. 28. This is his first game at the Wells Fargo Center.

Morris and the Suns are starting a trip that will cover 6,301 miles as they try to improve on a 1-4 road mark. They are looking to avoid the same bad habits they have shown at home, where they have fallen behind by double digits in seven of eight games.

"I think we just need to pick up the intensity," Morris said. "Early in the game we come out sluggish and you know teams get up on us, but it's something we're working on and we just gotta keep working."

Phoenix has dropped all three meetings with Philadelphia (7-6) since the 76ers hired Doug Collins, who had Gentry as one of his assistants during their time with Detroit.

The 76ers fell for the first time in four games against Western Conference foes with Saturday's 116-109 overtime home loss to Oklahoma City. They surrendered their highest point total and allowed the Thunder to shoot 49.5 percent - the best mark by a Philadelphia opponent in 2012-13.

Thaddeus Young had a season-high 29 points and career-high 15 boards, Evan Turner scored a season-best 26 points and Jrue Holiday handed out 13 assists but it wasn't enough against the high-powered Thunder.

"We had some guys play great, great games, fought, competed, played great," said Collins, whose club is seeking to avoid its first three-game slide. "Evan, Thad were terrific."

Holiday is averaging career highs of 17.5 points and 8.9 assists, although he is also committing a league-worst 4.5 turnovers per game.

Sixers starting guard Jason Richardson left Saturday with a sprained ankle. The former Sun's status is uncertain after he did not see action in the second half.

Dorrell Wright started four games earlier this season when Richardson was out with the same injury. Philadelphia won't use any absences or fatigue as excuses Sunday.

"That's why we have a team," Young said. "We have other guys that can step in and fulfill roles and go out there and play the game of basketball and hopefully go in and give us a little rest time."

Holiday leads 76ers to 104-101 win over Suns

Posted Nov 25 2012 10:26PM

PHILADELPHIA (AP) Shortly after the season began, the Philadelphia 76ers rewarded point guard Jrue Holiday with a four-year, $41 million contract extension.

Money well spent.

Holiday had a career-high 33 points and 13 assists, leading the Philadelphia 76ers over the Phoenix Suns 104-101 on Sunday.

The 22-year-old made several big plays down the stretch, one night after scoring just six points in a rare off game in an overtime loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

"I like having the feel of the game with the pressure on to take the ball in my hands," said Holiday, who did have 13 assists against the Thunder. "At crunch-time, I think I made the right plays."

Evan Turner scored 16 points, Lavoy Allen had 11 and Thaddeus Young 10 for the 76ers, who snapped a two-game losing streak. The Sixers (8-6) haven't dropped three in a row all season.

"It was a great win for us," Young said. "We take a lot of pride in how we play and we didn't want to lose three straight. I think Jrue set the tone from the beginning with his aggressive play. He put us on his shoulders."

Michael Beasley led the Suns with 21 points while Marcin Gortat added 18.

Sebastian Telfair scored 12 points, Jermaine O'Neal had 11 while Goran Dragic and Luis Scola had 10 each for the Suns (6-8), who had won two in a row.

It was the first stop of a six-game road trip for the Suns.

"We have a young team, but there are no excuses in this league," O'Neal said. "You have to bring it every night. We have a really good team with a lot of really good players. I think it's just a mental mistake here or there that is costing us games."

After the Suns closed to 95-91, Holiday put his stamp on the outcome in more ways than one. Jason Richardson missed a 3-pointer, but Holiday cleared space in the lane, snared the offensive rebound and converted a three-point play for a 98-91 lead with 3:47 remaining.

"That was big," Sixers coach Doug Collins said.

Holiday now has five double-doubles after compiling just one in the last year's lockout-shortened 66-game regular season.

"I had to come out and be aggressive," Holiday said. "I knew we were a little tired from last night."

The 76ers then struggled after Holiday's three-point play, missing four straight shots.

Phoenix answered with a 6-0 run and pulled to 98-97 after O'Neal's baseline jumper with 1:06 left.

On Philadelphia's ensuing possession, Richardson responded with a tough 15-footer for a 100-97 advantage.

Beasley hit two free throws and Holiday came right back with a jumper for a 102-99 lead.

Holiday made one of two free throws for a 103-101 lead.

"Jrue has been doing it all season," Young said. "He's been playing at an extremely high level."

Beasley had a chance to tie it but missed a wide-open layup with 2.8 seconds remaining.

"We had our chances but couldn't capitalize," O'Neal said. "We can't feel sorry for ourselves. We have to come back and do the little things that are necessary to win in this league, especially on the road."

Despite being outrebounded 26-16, the Sixers took a 46-41 lead into the locker room at halftime.

NOTES: The Sixers missed eight straight field goals from 7:05 to 2:54 of the first quarter. . Gortat has started 90 consecutive games and has appeared in 134 straight since being acquired by the Suns. . The Sixers were 9 of 19 from 3-point territory. . Turner hit three 3-pointers, a career-high.

Notebook: Sixers 104, Suns 101

Andy Jasner, for NBA.com
Posted Sun Nov 25, 2012 10:53 PM - Updated Sun Nov 25, 2012 10:53 PM

THE FACTS: Jrue Holiday scored a career-high 33 points and also contributed 13 assists, one off tying his career-high, in the Philadelphia 76ers' 104-101 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Sunday night at the Wells Fargo Center. Evan Turner added 16 points, Lavoy Allen had 11 points and Thaddeus Young 10. The Sixers improved to 8-6 and avoided a three-game losing streak for the first time all season.

Six players reached double figures for the Suns (6-8), anchored by Michael Beasley's 21 points. Marcin Gortat had 18 points and Sebastian Telfair chipped in with 12 off the bench.

QUOTABLE: "I like the fact that we came out with a lot of intensity on a back-to-back. We stayed with it and stayed with it and made enough plays to win the game. Any win in this league is a good win. After losing in overtime last night, it's great to come back and get a win like this."

-- Sixers forward Thaddeus Young

THE STAT: The Suns entered the game allowing a league-worst 100.5 points per game. They gave up 104 in this loss.

TURNING POINT: There were so many big plays by both teams in the waning minutes. Trailing 103-101, Beasley had a clear drive down the lane but missed the layup. Had that shot dropped through with 2.8 seconds left, the game likely would have gone to overtime.

HOT: Holiday was 13-for-21 from the field and 6-for-8 from the free throw line. Young also hit five of his seven shots.

NOT: Luis Scola was 3-for-9 and Goran Dragic was 4-for-10 for the Suns. Both players finished with 10 points but never quite found any consistent rhythm within the offense.

QUOTABLE II: "I love the effort that we played with. It would have been a great game to start the road trip off with. But we have to figure out a way to stay and stick with the game plan and do a better job in rotation."

-- Suns coach Alvin Gentry

FANTASY SPOTLIGHT: Holiday has to be mentioned here with his fifth double-double of the season. He also chipped in with three rebounds, including a huge offensive rebound and a three-point play with 3:47 remaining.

INSIDE THE ARENA: After a raucous atmosphere Saturday night for the Oklahoma City Thunder, the crowd of 14,518 was quiet for much of this game against the Suns. In the last five minutes, the buzz improved. For the second game in a row, Julius Erving presented the game ball. Erving is currently employed as a strategic advisor for the Sixers.

QUOTABLE III: "Thank God Jrue was on today. He was fantastic."

-- Sixers coach Doug Collins, on Holiday

GOOD MOVE: Collins kept the ball in Holiday's hands throughout the game. Against the Thunder, Turner ran the offense a good bit from the top of the key. Holiday was sharp from the opening tip and his coach showed a lot of trust in him.

BAD MOVE: Dragic has been the Suns' most consistent player all season. They could have run more offense through Dragic down the stretch, especially with his penchant of getting to the free throw line.

ROOKIE WATCH: Phoenix guard Kendall Marshall and forward-center Luke Zeller didn't play. For the Sixers, guard Maalik Wayns had his most productive game of the season with seven points in 7:08 while forward Arnett Moultrie missed both shots he attempted in 7:09.

NOTABLE: Holiday became the first Philadelphia player to have at least 33 points and 13 assists in a game since Allen Iverson accomplished the feat with 38 points and 15 assists against the Orlando Magic on Jan. 26, 2006. ... It was just the 30th time a Sixer has scored 30 or more points (467 games) since the franchise traded Iverson. ... The Sixers have won four straight over Phoenix after losing four of the previous five. ... Philadelphia has scored 100 or more points in each of the past two games after doing that twice in the first 12 games. ... Turner had a career-high three 3-pointers, improving his season totals to 8-for-19 from beyond the arc.

NEXT: For the Suns, Tuesday @ Cleveland, Wednesday @ Detroit, Friday @ Toronto. For the Sixers, Tuesday vs. Dallas, Friday @ Charlotte, Saturday @ Chicago.

• Suns: Frye, Garrett
• 76ers: Bynum

• Suns: --
• 76ers: --

• Lead Changes: 16
• Times Tied: 10

• Arena: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA
• Officials: #13 Monty McCutchen, #12 Violet Palmer, #28 Zach Zarba
• Attendance: 14518
• Duration: 2:19