The Phoenix Suns will try to extend their winning streak Sunday evening when they head to the Wells Fargo Center to meet the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Suns open a six-game eastern road trip and won two in a row back home before the flight left. Phoenix needed overtime, but eventually came out on top against the New Orleans Hornets on Friday, 111-108.
Same story for Phoenix as it has been all year. The Suns fell 19 points behind in the second half, but came back for the win. It was the 11th time the Suns trailed by double-digits in 13 games this season.
"Obviously a much needed win, but I just thought we hung in," said Suns coach Alvin Gentry. "We didn't get off to the start that we wanted to and we have to do a little bit better job of following the game plan. That caused us some problems as far as getting in the paint, but I just thought we kept battling and found a way to come up with the win."
The Suns are 1-4 on the road this season, but are 2-0 with their new starting lineup. Out were Luis Scola and Jared Dudley and in came Markieff Morris and Shannon Brown. Six Suns, including a game-high 23 from Morris, scored in double-figures and the Suns only committed 10 turnovers on Friday night.
The Sixers lost a heartbreaker at home Saturday night to the Oklahoma City Thunder, 116-109 in overtime. Kevin Durant went off for 37 points thanks to 15-for-17 shooting from the free-throw line. Russell Westbrook scored 30 with nine assists.
The foul shooting became an interesting subplot on Saturday night. The Thunder attempted and converted 20 more free-throw attempts than Philadelphia and Oklahoma City made 86.5 percent.
"It's tough to guard the foul line," said Sixers coach Doug Collins.
The news on the injury front wasn't great for the 76ers on Saturday.
Jason Richardson sprained his ankle against the Thunder and only played 18 minutes. His status for Sunday night is doubtful.
The bigger, but far less shocking story had to do with Andrew Bynum.
The former All-Star center, acquired in a summer blockbuster, will be out indefinitely. There are no timelines for his return now as he is suffering from "bilateral bone bruises and a weakened cartilage state" in his knees.
"We've said all along that we need some patience, that this is hard to predict this healing process," 76ers general manager Tony DiLeo said. "Andrew is the indicator how his body reacts."
The Sixers are getting toward the end of a run of eight out of nine games at home. They are 3-3 at home during this stretch with Sunday night and Tuesday's game against the Dallas Mavericks remaining.
The two teams have split the last six meetings and the Sixers are 2-1 in Philadelphia since the 2008-09 season.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.