Philadelphia (41-38) at New Jersey (39-40)

[ducks]

Philadelphia (41-38) at New Jersey (39-40)
Preview - Box Score - Recap
Game Info: 6:00 pm EDT Sun Apr 17, 2005
TV: NBAt, YES Add to Calendar
Buy Tickets
The loser of Sunday's game between the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Nets could miss the playoffs.

With the way both teams are playing lately, however, it wouldn't be a surprise if both got in.

The 76ers and Nets try to continue their strong late-season play, with Philadelphia hoping to clinch a playoff spot, when they meet in a crucial game at Continental Airlines Arena.

Though both teams played sub-.500 ball for much of the season, they have picked the most important time to play well while the Cleveland Cavaliers have picked the wrong time to falter.

Philadelphia has won two straight and six of seven to grab sole possession of seventh place in the Eastern Conference. New Jersey has won 12 of 16, closing within a game of the eighth-place Cavaliers for the final playoff berth.

ADVERTISEMENT
Both teams got big road wins Friday night. The 76ers beat Indiana 90-86, while the Nets rallied from a 14-point halftime deficit to beat the Raptors 101-90 in Vince Carter's return to Toronto.

Meanwhile, Cleveland lost for the second straight night and fifth time in seven games. The Cavaliers visit defending NBA champion Detroit earlier Sunday, and a loss there combined with a Nets victory moves New Jersey into a tie for eighth.

A victory also gives the Nets tiebreaker advantages over both the Cavaliers and 76ers.

A playoff berth for New Jersey would seem remarkable considering what the Nets have gone through. They traded Kenyon Martin in the offseason, had to play without Jason Kidd and Richard Jefferson for long stretches because of injuries, and haven't been at .500 since they started 2-2.

The key to their turnaround has been Carter, who has been brilliant since the Nets acquired him from Toronto. He ignored the boos Friday to score 24 of his 39 points in the second half to lead the Nets' comeback.

``Everything around Vince helped us focus and concentrate,'' Kidd said. ``As much as he wanted to win, we wanted to win, too.''

Chris Webber hasn't been as good for Philadelphia as Carter has for the Nets, but the power forward's last two games have been among his best since the 76ers traded for him. He followed a 15-point, 10-rebound game in an overtime victory over Miami by scoring 21 points and grabbing eight boards in Friday's win at Indiana.

The key to those wins, as always, was Allen Iverson. After scoring 38 points and handing out 16 assists in 53 minutes against Miami, he played 44 minutes against the Pacers and finished with 43 points.

``I understood we had to play back-to-back and we've got four in five nights,'' Iverson said. ``All I thought about was just going out there and competing, I didn't think about being tired.''

The 76ers will be able to give Iverson some rest if they win Sunday to clinch a playoff spot. They close the season with home games against Milwaukee and Atlanta, which both have losing records.

New Jersey finishes with games against playoff teams Washington and Boston.

[boutons]

Wow, Vince unstoppable, and Jason looks like 02, 03 Kidd. Nets 28-15 after 8 minutes.

[ducks]

nets crushed them
can they atleast win one game against heat?