SIXERS NEWS

After a tough loss the Easterb conference leading Celitcs in their last game, that a snapped a 4 game winning streak, the Sixers looked to rebound tonight against the team that is 2nd in the Eastern conference, the Detroit Pistons, at the Palace at Auburn Hills. Over the years the Palace has been a real house of horrors for the Sixers, and for just about everyone thus far this season, as coming in the Pistons had only lost 5 games at home all season long. So on paper, the chances of Sixers rebounding tonight didn't look so good. However, the young Sixers were determined to prove they belong at the top of the East, and ignored the stats, to steal victory in a thriller. On the night five Sixers scored in double figures(Andre Iguodala, Andre Miller, Reggie Evans, Thaddeus Young, Rodney Carney) With Iggy's 22 leading the way. Defensively, Samuel Dalembert with 15 rebounds and 3 blocks, and Evans with 11 rebounds and a block led the way as the Sixers out rebounded Detroit 39-32, but were otherwise mano a mano with the Pistons in this test of wills. In the first quarter of play, the Sixers jumped out to an early 8 point lead, with the score 26-18. In the second quarter of play the Pistons chipped into the lead a bit and by the half it was only 6, with the score 48-42. In the 3rd quarter of play, the Pistons pulled ahead for seemingly the first time all night, and clung to a 67-66 lead heading into the 4th quarter. There the two teams bounced back and forth until with under 30 seconds to go the Sixers got the ball up one, 83-82, following two made free throws by Chauncey Billups. Expectedly they gave the ball to Iggy, and he let the clock run down to about 7 seconds, before missing a tough, well defended jumper. So that gave the Pistons one last chance to get the win, but Mr. Big shot, Chauncey Billups, was defended equally well and came up short on his game winning jumper, to cap a huge 83-82 win for the Sixers. So the Sixers improve to 31-34 overall, but remain 3rd in the Atlantic division, and 7th in Eastern conference, still a game behind the Wizards for 6th.