Surging 76ers win in Atlanta

ATLANTA (AP):

The 76ers were impressive in running out to a 20-point lead in the first quarter against Atlanta.

Philadelphia coach Doug Collins was even more impressed with the way his team protected that advantage, never letting the Hawks back in the game.

Elton Brand scored 13 of his 17 points in the first half and Philadelphia kept up the pressure in the second half and cruised to a 117-83 win over Atlanta on Tuesday night.

"I never could have imagined that kind of win tonight," Collins said. "I mean, our guys have been playing well. But we came out and had a real sense of purpose."

Louis Williams, from South Gwinnett High School near Atlanta, had 20 points to lead six Philadelphia scorers in double figures. Thaddeus Young and Jodie Meeks each had 16.

Non-existent defence

Philadelphia shot 54.4 per cent from the field and took a 50-35 advantage in rebounds.

"Our defence was non-existent," Atlanta's Joe Johnson said. "They got everything they wanted."

Johnson had only six points to match his season low.

The 76ers, who had a three-game winning streak end with a loss at New York on Sunday, have won seven of nine.

Josh Smith, the only Atlanta player to log at least 30 minutes, had 16 points. Damien Wilkins had 12 points and Marvin Williams had 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Philadelphia led 65-33 at half-time, leading Collins to warn his players against a letdown.

"The third quarter to me was all about maturity and I told them that," Collins said. "We weren't going to let them back in the game."

No challenge

The Hawks barely won the third quarter, 25-23, but never mounted a challenge.

"(Collins) talked about it's important because later on in the season we're going to need to play that way when it's a two-point game," Brand said. "He wants to instill in us to play that way no matter the score."

The Hawks had won 14 of their last 16 at home, but this was not their first ugly loss at Philips Arena. The Hawks were held to the lowest-scoring game in Atlanta history in a 100-59 home loss to the New Orleans Hornets on January 21.

It's no coincidence the Hawks were without All-Star centre Al Horford in each lopsided loss. Horford missed the January 21 loss with an ankle injury and was held out against the Sixers for the second straight game with a back contusion. Horford hurt his back in a fall on Friday night after a flagrant foul by the Clippers' Blake Griffin.

"Obviously, they missed Horford, but we played a terrific game tonight," Collins said. "We really played a complete game."

In other games, the scores were: LA Clippers 85 Orlando 101, Indiana 112 Miami 117, San Antonio 100 Detroit 89, Memphis 105 Oklahoma City 101, Toronto 74 Milwaukee 92, Minnesota 112 Houston 108.