The 76ers were once again missing guard Allen Iverson, who has been out the past four games to tend to his ill daughter. The reserves came through for Philadelphia as Lou Williams (16 points), Thaddeus Young (15), Royal Ivey (9) and Jason Smith (9) helped the team win its fifth straight.
The game was played before a sparse crowd who braved the area’s second major snowstorm in less than a week. A strong contingent came to see Minnesota’s Wayne Ellington, who grew up in a Philadelphia suburb.
Ellington led Minnesota scorers with 16 points, while Corey Brewer and Jonny Flynn added 14 and 13, respectively. The loss ended Minnesota’s four-game winning streak.
Leading 30-23 after the first quarter, the non-starters sizzled on a 15-0 run to start the second, with Smith scoring nine. Iguodala’s layup were the only points scored by a starter.
The 43 points produced in the second quarter and the 73 points in the half were season highs. Philadelphia scored 40 first-quarter points in an Oct. 31 game at New York, and 71 first-half points Dec. 14 against Golden State.
The Timberwolves never led in the game. The Sixers had blown a 17-point, first-half lead in a Jan. 18 game in Minnesota, losing 108-103 in overtime, but continued to press in Philadelphia. A Williams basket late in the game pushed the lead to 27 points, Philadelphia’s biggest advantage of the night.
Notes
Swingman Rodney Carney missed Tuesday’s game with a sinus infection. … The home team has won the last seven games between these teams.