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Holiday leads Sixers past Clippers

It wasn't that long ago that the 76ers were a facsimile of their opponents Wednesday night, the Los Angeles Clippers.

Jodie Meeks scored 9 points Wednesday night against the Clippers. (David M Warren / Staff Photographer)
Jodie Meeks scored 9 points Wednesday night against the Clippers. (David M Warren / Staff Photographer)Read more

It wasn't that long ago that the 76ers were a facsimile of their opponents Wednesday night, the Los Angeles Clippers.

The fortunes of the Sixers have considerably changed, while the Clippers, remain, well, the Clippers.

Trailing by three points at halftime, the Sixers rode a 34-18 third quarter advantage to a 105-91 victory at the Wells Fargo Center.

The Sixers (10-15) have now won three in a row, five of their last six and seven of nine. Meanwhile, the Clippers are 5-21 and sport an untidy 0-11 road record.

The Sixers took care of the ball, committing just five turnovers.

Sixers point guard Jrue Holiday scored a team-high 24 points, all in the first three quarters. Andre Iguodala added 20 points, while Spencer Hawes contributed 16 points and 12 rebounds.

Under owner Donald Sterling, the Clippers have long been known as one of the NBA's biggest punching bags.

Since the 1993-94 season, the Clippers have had just one campaign above .500: They went 47-35 in 2005-2006, when they were led by current Sixer Elton Brand.

Yet this current Clippers team has some impressive young pieces, just not enough of them. And the Clippers have endured injuries.

Point guard Baron Davis is beginning to round into form after missing 11 games with a sore left knee. Center Chris Kaman did not play against the Sixers because of a left ankle injury.

The Clippers have a budding young scoring tandem in rookie Blake Griffin and third-year guard Eric Gordon.

Griffin, who missed all of last season with a broken kneecap, did not disappoint in his only Philadelphia appearance this season. He compiled his 19th double-double of the season - by halftime. Griffin had 13 points and 12 rebounds at intermission and ended with 20 points and 18 boards

Before the game, Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro talked about the need for the Clippers to establish some depth.

"[Gordon] and Blake have really carried us to this point," Del Negro said. "We have to get more guys competing at a higher level to get any type of consistency."

The Sixers, coming off Tuesday's 82-77 win at New Jersey, didn't have much energy early but trailed by only 56-53 at halftime. It could have been even closer.

Iguodala sank an off-balance, half-court shot to end the half, but it was ruled that it came after time expired.

Griffin has taken his share of physical punishment, and he took more with 2 minutes, 56 seconds left in the third quarter. Attempting one of his high-flying acts toward the basket, Griffin was fouled hard by Brand, who was assessed a flagrant 1 foul.

It was part of a frustrating third quarter for the Clippers.

Leading the Sixers' effort in the period were Iguodala and Holiday, who each scored eight points and hit a combined 6 of 7 shots, including 3 of 3 from beyond the arc.

The Sixers did not turn the ball over in the period, while the Clippers had four third-quarter turnovers.