|
|
The Philadelphia
76ers need to get their offense back on track to have a shot at making the playoffs.
The 76ers look to bounce back from a horrendous shooting night as they host
the Golden State Warriors.
Philadelphia trails the Boston Celtics by three games for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with just eight games left to play.
The 76ers are 3-5 over their last eight games and are coming off a dreadful 89-65 loss to the Celtics on Sunday.
Playing for the fifth straight game without injured Allen Iverson, Philadelphia set club records for fewest points in a half (23) and in three quarters (41). The 76ers sank nine of 19 shots in the fourth quarter after hitting 15 of 70 before then. They finished at 24-for-89, or 27 percent.
``When you fall so far behind you have to do things differently to break it
up,'' Aaron McKie said. ``We didn't figure things out until it was too late.''
Kenny Thomas had 18 to lead Philadelphia and Kyle Korver chipped in with 15.
``We missed a lot of wide open shots,'' Korver said. ``Unfortunately, it had to happen tonight (with) as big a game as this is.''
The 76ers can't afford another bad shooting night Tuesday, especially with the way Warriors center Erick Dampier is grabbing rebounds.
Dampier had a career-high 25 boards and 16 points to lead the Golden State Warriors to their seventh straight win, 105-77 over the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday.
Dampier had his sixth game with at least 20 rebounds this season and the 25 boards were the most in a non-overtime game in the NBA so far this year.
``Things are just now coming together for us,'' said Dampier, averaging career highs of 12.4 points and 11.9 rebounds. ``Everybody is going out there and leaving it on the floor, and I am just trying to get my hands on every ball.''
Dampier has hinted he might opt out of the last two years of his contract and test free agency this summer.
``The Warriors gotta do something,'' teammate Jason Richardson said. ``He is one of the top two or three centers in the league. He worked on his game, is healthy and he is showing that he is a force.''
STANDINGS (through March 28): Warriors - 5th place, 19 1/2 GB, Pacific Division. 76ers - 5th place, 12 GB, Atlantic Division.
PROBABLE STARTERS: Warriors - F Cliff Robinson, F Michael Pietrus, C Dampier, G Richardson, G Mike Dunleavy. 76ers - F John Salmons, F Thomas, C Samuel Dalembert, G McKie, G Eric Snow.
TEAM LEADERS: Warriors - Richardson, 18.5 ppg; Dampier, 11.9 rpg; Van Exel, 5.3 apg. 76ers - Iverson, 26.4 ppg; Thomas, 10.1 rpg; Snow, 6.9 apg.
SEASON SERIES: Warriors, 1-0.
LAST MEETING: Nov. 1; Warriors, 104-90. At Golden State, Dunleavy had 32 points and 11 rebounds, and Calbert Cheaney scored 20 points to lead the Warriors. Iverson and McKie each scored 19 points for the 76ers.
ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Warriors - 8-27 on the road; 76ers - 20-16 at home.
INJURIES: Warriors - G Speedy Claxton (hand); G Van Exel (knee); C Evan Eschmeyer (knee). 76ers - G Iverson (knee); F-C Derrick Coleman (knee); C Todd MacCulloch (foot); F Glenn Robinson (elbow); C Mark Jackson (foot).