SIXERS NEWS

With their series now tied 1-1, the Sixers returned home to the Wachovia center tonight to face the Pistons in game 3. Back in game 2 the Pistons came out aggressive and never let up throttling the Sixers into submission. Tonight it was a bit of a role reversal. Although it took them 3 quarters to do so, it was the Sixers who eventually put the throttle down and ran away with it while the Pistons could only stand idly by and watch. Offensively, four Sixers scored in double figures(Andre Iguodala, Andre Miller, Samuel Dalembert, Thaddeus Young) with Sammy D's 22 leading the way. Defensively, it was Sammy D leading the way again with 16 rebounds and 2 blocks, as the Sixer's defense had the game of its collective lives, holding Detroit to 40% shooting from the field, out rebounding them 43-34, and forcing them to committ 25 turnovers on a night to remember. In the first quarter of play, it was a tight game and in fact was tied at 20, heading into the 2nd. In the 2nd quarter of play, the Sixers squeaked out to a 4 point lead, their first pre-half lead of the series with the score, 44-40. In the 3rd quarter of play, the Sixers energetic D, shutdown the Pistons, forcing turnover after turnover, en route to racing out to a 24 point lead at one point ,before settling for a 15 point lead, with the score 70-55 heading into the 4th. Finally in the 4th quarter of play the Sixers were simply on cruise control easily disposing of the Pistons by 20, with the final score 95-75. So now the Sixers lead 2 games to 1 and are a home win on Sunday away from taking a commanding lead in the series.