76ers make playoffs for 2nd straight season

[April 24, 2012]  NEWARK, N.J. (AP) -- The Philadelphia 76ers nailed down the final playoff berth in the Eastern Conference and spoiled the Nets' final game in New Jersey with a 105-87 victory Monday night.

Thaddeus Young scored all 15 of his points in the second half to help the 76ers make the postseason for the second straight year and eliminate the Milwaukee Bucks from playoff contention.

The win moved Philadelphia (34-30) into a tie with the New York Knicks for the No. 7 seed with two games remaining in the regular season.

Jrue Holiday and Elton Brand added 15 points apiece and Andre Iguodala had 14 points and nine assists for Philadelphia.

MarShon Brooks had 18 points to lead the Nets, who will move into a new arena in Brooklyn next season.

The short-handed Nets made the Sixers work for the final playoff spot. They trailed by as many as 15 points in the first half and made a third-quarter run to get within 63-62 on a jumper by Gerald Wallace with 3:44 left in the quarter.

Coach Doug Collins called a timeout and the 76ers closed the quarter with a 13-6 spurt to take a 76-68 lead. Young had the first two baskets in the run and 10 of the 13 points.

The Nets never threatened again over the final minutes and seemed time to be thinking about their 35 years in New Jersey.

Actor Bruce Willis got up in the closing minutes and asked the sellout crowd to cheer the Nets on, while the team left the court to the music of New Jersey's own Bruce Springsteen.

Evan Turner added 13 points and Lew Williams had 11 for Philadelphia, which shot almost 54 percent for the game.

Kris Humphries added 16 points and 12 rebounds for New Jersey, which will finish its season on Thursday in Toronto. Wallace added 11 points and Johan Petro and Armon Johnson had 10 points apiece.

The Nets introduced more than a dozen former players, owners and team executives at a halftime ceremony.

NOTES: Nets All Star point guard Deron Williams missed his fourth straight game with a sore right calf. ... Collins was fined $15,000 by the league for verbal abuse of an official during Saturday's game at Indiana. ... This was the seventh sellout in 33 homes games this season. ... Holiday suffered lacerations on his nose in the first half and played the second with cotton in his nose. ... Minutes after the game ended, the Nets website put up a sign reading "Hello Brooklyn."

[Associated Press; By Tom CANAVAN]

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