Sixers play at New Jersey tonight

The road has not been good for the 76ers so far this season, but the past two-plus weeks have.

The Sixers are just 1-10 on the road this season, but have played better overall of late and won five of their last seven. Tonight they face a New Jersey Nets team that has struggled even more than the Sixers and are riding a seven-game losing streak.

Here's some keys for the Sixers tonight up in North Jersey:

*Keep up the good defense. During the past seven games, the Sixers have allowed just 88.3 points, including 70 to the New Orleans Hornets in an easy win on Sunday.

*Get a lead and hold it. This is something that has plagued the Sixers on the road all season. Four times this season they have had double-digit leads on the road, only to lose because of late-game failures.

*Contain Nets center Brook Lopez. He always plays very well against the Sixers and is playing at a high level right now, having scored at least 24 points in his last three games.

*Get out and run. The Sixers are at their best when they do it and they have become so much better at it since the insertion of two-guard Jodie Meeks into the starting lineup.

*Play with confidence for 48 minutes if the game is close. On the road, close games become a comedy of errors late for the Sixers. They often turn into a play-not-to-lose team. It hasn't done them well.

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