Breaks 6 year curse: Sixers beat Suns

PHOENIX (AP) - March 1, 2008 Andre Miller added 25 points and 12 assists for the 76ers, who shot 57 percent after being blown out at Golden State 119-97 on Friday night. Willie Green scored 17, including three crucial free throws in the final 18.2 seconds.

Louis Williams added 13, including a 3-pointer and breakaway layup in the final 1:10.

The Suns lost consecutive home games for the first time this season to fall to 2-4 since Shaquille O'Neal joined the lineup.

Amare Stoudemire had 26 points and Leandro Barbosa scored 22 for Phoenix. Steve Nash had 21 points and 11 assists and after a tough game triggered a late rally that cut the lead to 116-114 with nine seconds to go.

The 76ers led most of the night in snapping a five-game losing streak in Phoenix. Their last victory on the Suns' court came on Jan. 2, 2002.

Iguodala, a collegiate standout at Arizona, made a 50-footer from beyond halfcourt at the third quarter buzzer to put the 76ers ahead for good 83-81. That started a 15-2 run that put Philadelphia up 95-83 with 7:21 to play on a 19-footer by Williams.

The lead reached 103-87 on Iguodala's 18-footer with 4:52 to play.

Nash scored nine points on three free throws and a pair of 3-pointers, the last with 18.2 seconds left, to cut it to 115-112. But Raja Bell was called for a foul before Philadelphia got the ball inbounds. Green made the free throw and the 76ers kept possession by rule.

Grant Hill stole Miller's inbounds pass and Stoudemire's tip-in cut it to 116-114 with 10 seconds left. But Green made two more free throws, then Bell threw the ball away, the Suns' 18th turnover. Miller's two free throws at 6.3 seconds finally sealed it.

The Suns shot 27 percent in the first quarter and trailed by as many as 12 early before their 36-point second quarter, led by Boris Diaw's 13, left the game tied at 54 at the half. Iguodala and Miller each scored 12 in the first half for Philadelphia.

The 76ers used a 9-0 spurt to take a 74-64 lead on Iguodala's 3-pointer with 4:53 to go in the third, but Phoenix responded with 15-2 run to go up 79-76 with 1:01 to go in the period.

Notes: Diaw had more points at halftime (15) than he did in 50 of his previous 58 games this season. ... The Suns last lost consecutive home games since February 2007, when they dropped three straight. ... Phoenix is 22-4 against Eastern Conference teams but has dropped its last two, both at home.