Sixers Notes: Looking to learn from big collapse

The 76ers were in bounce-back mode Saturday after squandering a 21-point lead with under four minutes to go in the third quarter and losing, 99-94, Friday to the visiting Memphis Grizzlies.

After expanding their lead to 70-49 on Thaddeus Young's 17-foot jumper with 3 minutes, 41 seconds left in the third quarter, the Sixers were outscored by 50-24.

The Sixers committed 15 turnovers after getting their 21-point lead, including 11 in a fourth quarter in which they were outscored, 42-21.

"I saw the pain on their face in the locker room," coach Doug Collins said after Saturday's practice at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. "That was as quiet as the locker room has been all season long."

So instead of ranting and raving, Collins tried to restore the team's confidence before it hosts the Denver Nuggets in Sunday's 6 p.m. matchup at the Wells Fargo Center.

Collins had the team look at that final 15 minutes, which couldn't have been the most enjoyable viewing.

"Film does a lot for young guys, to see where you are at and the mistakes you make, and hopefully we learn from them," said Andre Iguodala, who had 12 points, 8 rebounds, and 9 assists. "We just had a bad 15 minutes of basketball."

After the game, Iguodala talked about a lack of focus by the team.

"I should have probably rephrased that," Iguodala said. "We had focus during the game."

Iguodala talked about a giddy attitude at Friday's shoot-around, and Collins amplified that point.

"I thought [Friday] at our shoot-around that our focus wasn't great," Collins said.

And in the final 15 minutes of the game, neither was the Sixers' decision-making.

Now the focus shifts to Denver, winner of eight of its last 10 games.

"It stinks [losing that game], but the good thing about the NBA is you play so many games," Iguodala said. "You have no choice but to forget about it."

Defending Anthony. Iguodala realizes the Sixers will have their hands full in defending Denver's Carmelo Anthony, who is averaging 23.9 points, just below his career average of 24.7.

"He is probably the toughest guy to guard in the league," Iguodala said.

Tougher than Kobe Bryant?

"Kobe doesn't have the same explosiveness he used to have," Iguodala said. "Guys try to hit him hard when he goes to the basket, and he doesn't try to drive as much as he used to."

Anthony, according to Iguodala, can hurt teams in a variety of ways.

"With Carmelo, he is so strong on the block, and you have to double-team him on the block," Iguodala said. "Denver has some pretty good shooters on the perimeter, so it brings another dynamic to their team."

Turnover tales. Friday was only the second time this season the Sixers committed 20 or more turnovers. The other time was in a loss at Washington on Nov. 2, when they had 23. The Sixers were second in the NBA in fewest turnovers per game entering Friday but dropped to a tie for fourth (13.6 per game) prior to Saturday's games.