Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) – Elton Brand had game-highs of 25 points and 12 rebounds, and the Philadelphia 76ers got in the win column for the first time this season behind a 101-75 drubbing of the Indiana Pacers.
Doug Collins was unable to see the conclusion of his first win as Sixers head coach, having stayed in the locker room after halftime due to symptoms of vertigo that caused him to miss time during the preseason.
Associate coach Michael Curry guided the team to the finish, witnessing six players hit double-digits as the Sixers snapped a four-game slide to start the year, which included a tough overtime loss to Washington on Tuesday.
Thaddeus Young netted 16 points, Evan Turner contributed 12, while Andre Iguodala, Jrue Holiday and Lou Williams each had 11 in the resounding win.
Danny Granger was a woeful 2-of-14 from the field for seven points for the Pacers, who bested the Sixers in Indianapolis on Saturday. Darren Collison led Indiana with 11 points in defeat.
The Sixers jumped out to a healthy halftime lead by shooting 53.7 percent in the first 24 minutes and holding Indiana to 28.9 percent.
The hosts went on a 17-4 flurry over the final 4 1/2 minutes of the opening quarter, and Holiday had seven points during the run, including a steal in the backcourt that led to a slam.
The 31-16 margin ballooned to 57-31 at the break thanks to another late 14-4 Sixers spurt, which Turner finished with a jumper.
Indiana got as close as 15 on two occasions in the third, the last coming on a Josh McRoberts bucket with 3 1/2 minutes left that cut it to 69-54.
Williams’ three-pointer at the end of the frame had Philly on top, 78-58, and the Sixers held a significant advantage throughout the final stanza.
After teams made more free throws than they attempted in three of their first four games this season, the Sixers shot 21-for-25 from the foul line while the Pacers made 12-of-17…Holiday also had four steals and five assists…McRoberts logged 10 points for Indiana, which ended up shooting 31.5 percent for the game, compared to 46.9 percent for Philadelphia…Indiana had won four of its previous five games in Philly…It was Collins’ first win as a head coach since April 11, 2003 while with Washington.