Elton Brand scored 23 points, and Thaddeus Young had 22 points and 10 rebounds in the Philadelphia 76ers’ 107-97 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Saturday night.
Allen Iverson, recently voted a starter for the Eastern Conference All-Star team, had 17 points, five rebounds and three assists for the 76ers (15-28). Philadelphia won consecutive games for just the fourth time this season.
Danny Granger had 22 points, A.J. Price added 17 and Troy Murphy had 11 points and 12 rebounds for the Pacers (15-29), who have lost four of five after a three-game winning streak.
Trailing by 13 entering the fourth quarter, the Pacers cut it to 88-83 after Price’s consecutive 3-pointers. Philadelphia answered with an 11-0 run over the next 3 minutes to make it 99-83. Young had seven points during the spurt.
Philadelphia took its biggest lead, 74-58, on Iverson’s jumper with 5 minutes left in the third quarter. Indiana cut the deficit to nine before falling behind 86-73 entering the final period.
NOTES: Philadelphia rookie guard Jrue Holiday needed 12 stitches to close a cut above his right eye after banging his head on the court in the first quarter. He returned in the third quarter. … Pacers C Jeff Foster (sore lower back) and F Tyler Hansbrough (ear infection) did not play. … The Pacers and 76ers will complete the home-and-home series Monday in Philadelphia. … Many of the fans at Conseco Fieldhouse wore Indianapolis Colts jerseys and shirts. The Colts face the New York Jets in the AFC championship game Sunday at nearby Lucas Oil Stadium. Some Jets fans in attendance chanted: “J-E-T-S! Jets! Jets! Jets!” in the third quarter to a chorus of boos.
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