Former Bruin "one-and-done" Jrue Holiday 2009 had 13 pts, 12 assists (2 turnovers, 6/2 a/t ratio), and 7 steals for the night.
Fellow Bruin alum Jason Kapono 2000-03 also started alongside Holiday for the 76ers, scoring 14 pts to go with 5 rbds and 3 steals.
76ers beat the Hawks, 105-98.
Hawks grounded in loss to Sixers
By Andy Jasner, for NBA.com
Posted Friday March 26, 2010 11:21PM
PHILADELPHIA (NBA.com exclusive) -- Since a season-best five-game winning streak between Jan. 31-Feb. 9, which included road wins at New Orleans and Houston, the Philadelphia 76ers haven't been able to put together a mere two-game streak.
Until Friday.
Following up on a road win at Milwaukee on Wednesday, the Sixers came home and picked up a well-deserved 105-98 victory over the Atlanta Hawks before 13,293 fans at the Wachovia Center.
The fans were treated to quite a performance by the Sixers.
Andre Iguodala turned in a stellar all-around game with 25 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists in 39 minutes. Rookie point guard Jrue Holiday, the youngest player in the NBA, added 13 points and career-highs of 12 assists and seven steals.
The last Philadelphia player to finish with seven steals was Chris Webber against New York on April 2, 2006.
"Jrue was better than good," Sixers coach Eddie Jordan said.
Holiday earned his second double-double this season, but his first with points and assists.
"I'm learning to be consistent," Holiday said. "I'm learning how every game is different and to go with whatever the flow is in that game."
The Sixers began the game with Marreese Speights at center in place of Samuel Dalembert because he was late getting to the arena. Dalembert checked in with 2:37 left in the first quarter and wound up with 14 points and seven rebounds.
"That's all there is to it," Sixers coach Eddie Jordan said. "We are fine."
So was Iguodala, who nearly picked up his fifth career triple-double.
Despite playing with plantar fasciitis, Iguodala was on the court for most of the game. And he was solid in every aspect.
"In the second half, the pain just went away," said Iguodala, who was 9-for-12 from the field. "In the first half, it was bothering me a little bit. In the second half, you just have to go out there and play. If you have to sit out, you sit out. I try not to let it stand up in my mind."
For the Hawks, this had to be a tough loss to stomach. With their loss and Orlando's win over Minnesota, they fell 4 ½ games behind the Magic in the Southeast Division.
Joe Johnson and Josh Smith scored 20 points each, but the Hawks weren't able to withstand a late push by the Sixers. A win would have equaled last season's total of 47, but it will have to wait.
"We haven't had many games like this one, but we are playing for something," Atlanta coach Mike Woodson said. "I am trying to tell the team and push these guys to understand that you have to beat teams you're supposed to beat. There are no gimme games. I don't care where you play, when you play on the road, it is tough to win. We just showed up like we were just going to win and it didn't happen."
Johnson was even more critical of his team's effort.
"Our mindset was back in Atlanta," Johnson said. "We just thought we were going to show up and beat a team that was struggling. It doesn't work like that. We have to regroup and get ready for Sunday's game against Indiana. I am very disappointed in the way we played."
Conversely, the Sixers were elated after shooting 50 percent and out-rebounding the Hawks 40-39.
"This is not a fluke," said Sixers forward Elton Brand, who had 14 points. "I look at these rosters of these teams and I know that we can compete and beat these teams home and away."
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