SB Nation Philly - Jodie Meeks' Clutch Three Lifts Sixers Over Nuggets 95-89https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48987/philly-fave.png2010-12-27T01:47:52-05:00http://philly.sbnation.com/rss/stream/16619872010-12-27T01:47:52-05:002010-12-27T01:47:52-05:00Jodie Meeks' Clutch Three Lifts Sixers Over Nuggets 95-89
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/_mNcr1WCCgdMH6eSLlGQamKHFUM=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828129/large_philly.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>Denver, CO (Sports Network) - <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nba/players/71940/jodie-meeks">Jodie Meeks</a> hit a deep three with 47.1 seconds remaining to cap strong fourth quarter, and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nba/teams/philadelphia-76ers">Philadelphia 76ers</a> topped the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nba/teams/denver-nuggets">Denver Nuggets</a>, 95-89, at Pepsi Center.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nba/players/71917/jrue-holiday">Jrue Holiday</a> finished with 22 points, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nba/players/21756/elton-brand">Elton Brand</a> notched a double-double with 16 points and 17 rebounds. Meeks ended with 17 points for the Sixers, who snapped a two-game skid and are now 2-2 on a eight-game road trip.</p>
<p>"Once again our defense gave us a chance," Philadelphia coach Doug Collins said. "We won this game today shooting under 40 percent from the floor, 3-of-14 from three, missing 12 free throws."</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nba/players/21686/chauncey-billups">Chauncey Billups</a> finished with a game-high 24 points, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nba/players/24211/arron-afflalo">Arron Afflalo</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nba/players/71918/ty-lawson">Ty Lawson</a> both scored 14 and Nene had 13 points and nine rebounds for Denver, which was without superstar <span>Carmelo Anthony</span>. He missed his third game in a row following the death of his sister, Michelle Anthony, who passed away due to a pre-existing medical condition.</p>
<p>The Sixers were without guard Lou Williams who is home expecting the birth of his daughter. Williams will also miss Monday's game at Golden State.</p>
<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.denverstiffs.com/">Nuggets</a> were up 82-70 after two Billups free throws with 8:11 remaining, but a Brand layup on the Sixers' next possession started a 19-2 run that gave the Sixers the lead in the final minutes.</p>
<p>"I think it's something we have to spend some time watching on film, going through game-type situations in practice," Billups said of the fourth-quarter meltdown.</p>
<p>After his layup Brand added a putback shot just inside seven minutes to put the game at 82-74. Meeks connected on four free throws and Iguodala hit a short jumper with 5:08 remaining to put the game at 82-80.</p>
<p>After Holiday tied the game at the line, Billups hit on two from the charity stripe with 4:18 left to keep the Nuggets advantage at 84-82. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nba/players/24260/thaddeus-young">Thaddeus Young</a> then added two of his 20 points off the bench with a short jumper on the next possession, and Iguodala made the front end on two from the line to give the Sixers an 85-84 lead with 3 1/2 minutes remaining.</p>
<p>A Holiday jumper and two Brand free throws extended the Sixers' lead to five to cap the run and give Philadelphia a 89-84 advantage.</p>
<p>Nene ended the run when he hit on a convincing dunk just over the minute mark, but Meeks hit his long three to put the Sixers up six, 92-86, to seal the victory.</p>
<p>The Nuggets were forced to foul down the stretch and the only shot they made was a Billups three with 17.8 seconds left, but Philadelphia was already up eight at that point.</p>
<p>Denver took a 25-13 lead after the first, but shot 35 percent from the field in the second, and Philadelphia cut the margin to 46-43 at the half.</p>
<p>Holiday led the Sixers will 11 points in the third, but Denver outscored them 25-23, en route to a 71-66 lead entering the fourth.</p>
<p>The Nuggets have lost three straight...Denver shot 91.3 percent from the foul line...Philadelphia is now 4-12 on the road, and will finish off its trip with visits to Golden State, Phoenix, the LA <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nba/teams/los-angeles-lakers">Lakers</a> and New Orleans...Philadelphia was also without assistant coach Brian James due to a death in the family.</p>
https://philly.sbnation.com/2010/12/27/2326993/jodie-meeks-clutch-three-lifts-sixers-over-nuggets-95-89Jason Brewer