SIXERS NEWS

The Sixers traveled to Chicago to complete a home and home with the Bulls tonight. They put together another lackluster offensive performance, as in the last game, but this time the defense showed up. So while ,they shot just 39% from the field, and 18% from beyond the arc, and had more turnovers than assists, some gritty defense bailed them out enough for the win. Chicago shot just 40% from the field and 18% from beyond the arc themselves, but committed 24 turnovers, including 14 steals, to the Sixers 19, and were pushed around underneath the glass, pulling down just 39 rebounds to the Sixers 54. So it was the defense that won the day for the Sixers, as well as some clutch shooting and 20 point nights out Andre Iguodala, Andre Miller, and Elton Brand. Of course, since the offense struggled other than those 3 it would take overtime for the Sixers to pull this one out. Early on the Sixers jumped to a 10 point lead with the score 23-13 after a quarter of play. In the 2nd quarter Chicago turned the tables and by the half the lead was just 3 with the score 40-37. In the 3rd quarter the Sixers nudged in front again by 6, with the score 67-61 heading into the 4th. In the 4th Chicago rallied back to tie it with 18 seconds left and a desperation heave by Andre Miller fell short, sending the game into overtime with the score tied at 90. In overtime Miller shifted into another gear, almost singlehandedly pushing the Sixers back ahead, and until they had outlasted Chicago for a 103-95 overtime win. So the Sixers move to 8-10 overall and at least keep their heads above the water for now.