2008-09 News and Features

Looking Ahead: Feb 2009

The 76ers will kick off February with five-straight home games leading up to the All-Star break. During the 2007-08 season, the Sixers went into the All-Star break with five straight home games in the month of February and swept them, scoring over 100 points in four of the contests.

While the players and coaches take these one game at a time, SIXERS.COM will look ahead at each of the next five opponents.

Boston Celtics

DATE: February 3, 2009
TIME: 7:00 PM
TV: CSN
RADIO: WIP 610 AM
LEADING SCORER: Paul Pierce – 18.9 ppg
LEADING REBOUNDER: Kevin Garnett – 9.0 rpg
LEADING ASSISTS: Rajon Rondo – 8.1 apg
LAST WIN OVER CELTICS: March 24, 2008 (95-90) - Andre Iguodala scored 10 straight points during a 19-0 run that brought Philadelphia back from a double-digit, fourth-quarter deficit, which put them over .500 for the first time during the 2007-08 season and helped solidify their push to the playoffs. The Celtics held an 80-69 lead with 8:20 left, but the Sixers scored the next 19 points -- five by Thaddeus Young, four by Louis Williams and a steal and emphatic breakaway dunk by Iguodala to tie it.
QUOTE OF THE NIGHT: "They will be a dangerous team in the playoffs." - Celtics forward Paul Pierce
SEASON SERIES: 0-2
ALL-TIME SERIES: 175-232

Indiana Pacers

DATE: February 5, 2009
TIME: 7:00 PM
TV: CSN
RADIO: WIP 610 AM
LEADING SCORER: Danny Granger – 25.6 ppg
LEADING REBOUNDER: Troy Murphy – 11.4 rpg
LEADING ASSISTS: T.J. Ford – 4.9 apg
LAST WIN OVER PACERS: November 14 2008 (94-92) – Thaddeus Young had 25 points and 10 rebounds, Elton Brand added 14 points and 15 rebounds, and Andre Iguodala finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds, as the Sixers overcame a 26-point deficit to snap a three-game losing streak against the Pacers. Postgame Report
QUOTE OF THE NIGHT: "It was a great comeback by Philadelphia. Sometimes you get too big a lead early in the game - and the NBA is a game of momentum shifts." - Indiana coach Jim O'Brien.
SEASON SERIES: 1-1
ALL-TIME SERIES: 86-55

Miami Heat

DATE: February 7, 2009
TIME: 7:00 PM
TV: CSN
RADIO: WIP 610 AM
LEADING SCORER: Dwyane Wade – 28.4 ppg
LEADING REBOUNDER: Shawn Marion – 9.0 rpg
LEADING ASSISTS: Dwyane Wade – 7.1 apg
LAST WIN OVER HEAT: February 23, 2008 (101-96) - Andre Iguodala scored 24 points and converted a key three-point play as the 76ers scored the final 10 points in overtime to defeat the Heat. Andre Miller scored 24 points and Willie Green added 14 for the Sixers, who fell behind early in the extra period before coming on in the last few minutes.
QUOTE OF THE NIGHT: "We did everything we could to win, except win. They kicked our butts on the boards." Then-Miami coach Pat Riley
SEASON SERIES: 0-1
ALL-TIME SERIES:48-33

Phoenix Suns

DATE: February 9, 2009
TIME: 7:00 PM
TV: CSN
RADIO: WIP 610 AM
LEADING SCORER: Amar’e Stoudamire – 21.3 ppg
LEADING REBOUNDER: Shaquille O’Neal – 9.0 rpg
LEADING ASSISTS: Steve Nash – 9.6 apg
LAST WIN OVER SUNS: March 1, 2008 (119-114) - Andre Iguodala scored 32 points and the Sixers held on to beat the Suns in Phoenix for the first time in six years. Andre Miller added 25 points and 12 assists, while Willie Green scored 17, including three crucial free throws in the final 18.2 seconds to seal the win. Iguodala made a 50-footer from beyond half court at the third quarter buzzer, which triggered a 15-2 run that put Philadelphia up 95-83 with 7:21 to play on a 19-footer by Lou Williams.
SEASON SERIES: 0-0
ALL-TIME SERIES: 47-57

Memphis Grizzlies

DATE: February 11, 2009
TIME: 7:00 PM
TV: CSN
RADIO: WIP 610 AM
LEADING SCORER: O.J. Mayo – 19.0 ppg
LEADING REBOUNDER: Marc Gasol – 7.1 rpg
LEADING ASSISTS: Kyle Lowry – 3.9 apg
LAST WIN OVER GRIZZLIES: February 13, 2008 (102-88) - Andre Iguodala had 29 points, eight rebounds and eight assists as the 76ers won their fifth straight and completed a perfect homestand before the All-Star break with a 102-88 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night. Samuel Dalembert added 16 points and 12 rebounds and Andre Miller had 14 points and 11 assists. The win capped a stretch where Philadelphia defeated Washington, Miami, the Los Angeles Clippers and Dallas on its home court since Feb. 5. The Sixers opened the game with a 14-2 advantage and wound up shooting 55 percent from the field, including 5-of-8 from 3-point territory.
QUOTE OF THE NIGHT: "We need to get better and understand that we need to get better as a group.'' Sixers forward Andre Iguodala
SEASON SERIES: 0-0
ALL-TIME SERIES: 17-8