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Iguodala scores 19 in 76ers’ 1st win

By DAN GELSTON, AP Sports Writer Oct 30, 10:53 pm EDT

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PHILADELPHIA (AP)—The 76ers have almost been forgotten by a city whipped into a World Series frenzy.

Andre Iguodala(notes) and Elton Brand(notes) gave a reminder why they might be worth watching long after fans have put away the Phillies T-shirts for the winter.

Iguodala scored 19 points, Brand had 17 and the Philadelphia 76ers bounced back from a dismal opener to beat the Milwaukee Bucks 99-86 on Friday night.

Samuel Dalembert(notes) had 10 points and 12 rebounds to help the Sixers look sharp in their home opener. The Sixers turned around an atrocious performance in their debut against the Magic that saw them trail by as many as 31 points.

“It was a great bounce-back game from that embarrassing Orlando loss,” Brand said.

All the hype in Philly has been directed toward the Phillies-Yankees World Series. Throw in the Giants-Eagles NFL game across the street on Sunday, and both ends of the New Jersey Turnpike are ready to rumble.

Don’t forget, the Sixers are in New York to play the Knicks on Saturday night to make it a weekend full of the NY-Philly rivalry.

“I can’t stand those guys right now, all three of those teams,” said Brand, who was raised in Westchester, N.Y. “It’s a huge weekend, especially with football, baseball. Right now, ours doesn’t have much importance, but it’s still a rivalry.”

Michael Redd(notes) and 20-year-old rookie guard Brandon Jennings(notes) led the Bucks with 17 points each. Jennings, who never played college ball, narrowly missed a triple-double with nine assists and nine rebounds for the Bucks—the last NBA team to start the season.

“I tried to push the tempo, trying to do what I could to help the team win,” Jennings said. “If we’d won, I’d be a lot happier. I did feel pretty good out there.”

The Bucks, who have finished last in the Central Division all five seasons since the NBA’s realignment, blew a 47-41 halftime lead, then sliced Philadelphia’s lead to five points late in the fourth.

Jason Kapono(notes), acquired from Toronto to give the Sixers the long-range boost the worst 3-point shooting team in the league needed, nailed a 3 and Iguodala sank a 17-footer during a 10-0 run that helped the Sixers start to creep away.

Iguodala picked up his game after a three-basket, eight-point clunker against the Magic. Coach Eddie Jordan said before the game he wasn’t going to be concerned with one bad outing. He had to like the effort in this victory.

Brand gave fans a reason to care, grabbing rebounds and scoring key baskets in a third-quarter comeback.

Brand wasn’t $80 million good, but it was a chance to show the home fans he can do more than look good in a suit on the bench. He was all over the court in the third quarter, disrupting the Bucks and wiping out their halftime lead.

“He’s banging, he’s fighting in there, he’s in the trenches,” Jordan said. “When you feel like things are going your way, it sort of builds your momentum.”

Brand’s steal led to him making two free throws. He made a jumper that gave the Sixers their first lead of the second half, then hit a pretty fade that tied the game after the Bucks briefly went ahead.

Lou Williams put the Sixers ahead for good at 56-55 with two free throws. The Sixers went 19 of 20 from the line in the quarter.

The Bucks played without guard Carlos Delfino(notes), suspended one game for his role in an altercation during a preseason game.

The Sixers only tinkered with their roster in the offseason—point guard Andre Miller(notes) was the biggest defection—but it’s a whole new atmosphere at the Wachovia Center. Yes, even with discounted $10 upper level tickets available, it was still a mediocre crowd at the opener in a city with a dose of World Series madness. But the organization took action off the results of a fan survey that proved there was too much unwanted noise during games.

The Sixers quit blasting rap and dance music through the arena during play. The in-game entertainment was scaled back. Their public address announcer, who used to gratingly yell “Iguo-dala-dala-dala-dala!” after one of his baskets, now says the name in concise fashion.

What a welcome and quickly noticeable change.

NOTES: Iguodala addressed the crowd before the game and told them the Sixers will “continue to strive for that No. 1 goal and that’s to win the championship.” … One fan with a courtside seat stormed over to security to complain because a cameraman was blocking his view. “I paid $1,800 for that seat!” he said.

Updated Oct 30, 10:53 pm EDT
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18 Comments

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  1. Mark H
    18. Posted by Mark H Sat Oct 31 1:08pm EDT

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    a young team that sneaks into the playoffs...and makes another first round exit.

    Spend some smart many philly!!!
  2. Rick A.
    17. Posted by Rick A. Sat Oct 31 11:51am EDT

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    Iguodala will be traded within two years due to the incompetent leadership of the Sixers, and will excel in LA as Kobe's wingman! Then the full potential of Dre's talents will put on a national stage, and he will get his rightfully owed respect. I cannot believe that so many of the so-called "fans" of the Sixers can't see the obvious that he is the best player they have, no contest! I am a Sixers fan of over 30 years, and will leave with Dre when he goes, the franchise has no clue how to win and never will.
  3. chillyfromphilly
    16. Posted by chillyfromphilly Sat Oct 31 9:44am EDT

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    well thats the way this city has always been. we lean towards the most winning team at that time. philly is still a football city first,hockey next then basketball and then baseball. but obviously with the phillies becoming a winning team again and actually winning a championship and getting to the championship series 2 years in a row how could the philles not be the team of the city right now. heck,even myself never liked baseball as a sport until about 3 years ago.but dont get it twisted, the phillies have always had die hard fans. the sixers had a legit shot of winning a title, the center would be filled.basketball fans here in philly know that the east conf is run by the celtics, magic and cavs. thats not likely to change for a while. im reading about fans wanting stephen jackson here. the only jackson that MIGHT help bring a title to the sixers is phil jackson. i agree that for whatever reason iggie just cant play the 2 guard. this is a problem.unlike alot of fans here it wouldnt be such a easy choice to trade either young or iggie. i suggested during the summer that the sixers trade dalembert to the rockets for mcgrady for contract reasons.maybe the sixers can trade either young of iggie for mcgrady. not that mcgrady would help us win. mcgrady had a 20million contract that expires at the end of the season which the sixers could use to attract a major free agent( dwayne wade) i know that hoping for alot but you can dream right?
  4. <i>eagles12345678</i>
    15. Posted by eagles12345678 Sat Oct 31 1:53am EDT

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    lol ok captain..... lets see here.... first i agree iggy should be a sf and is much more effective at that position then a SG.... also thad young needs 2 play sf to be succesful and for the team to be succesfull.... so that means thad young has 2 go we need 2 trade him for a 2 guard... stephen jackson and his 3 point shooting at that position would be nice..... i say thad needs 2 go cause iggy is the better player.... and for u 2 say iggys defense isnt good is assanine..... he locks down the other teams best player on most nights and does a pretty damn good job at it..... his decision making isnt the best but as far as improving HE HAS IMROVED TREMENDOUSLY in the ball handling and one on one aspect of the game as far as breaking down his guy and getting to the rim... if u remember the play off series he couldnt drive to the basket one on one so he settled for a mid range jump shot that had so many bricks u could build a house with.... which brings me 2 his improvement on his mid range game... u could also add in his 3 point shooting since a few yrs ago that was non existent and now he hits about 1 1.5 average per game ! NO UR @#$% BEFORE U RUN OFF AT THE MOUTH !!!

    DALEMBERT SHOULD NOT BE THE STARTING CENTER..... PLEASE PUT SPEIGHTS IN AND STOP PLAYIN.... THIS KID HAS A LOW POST GAME A MID RANGE GAME AND CAN SHOOT WELL FOR A BIG MAN OUTSIDE.... he is energetic plays the game hard and hustles and doesnt mind mixin it up down low.... he can score 25 any given night sammy d CAN NOT !
  5. scott
    14. Posted by scott Sat Oct 31 12:01am EDT

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    The whole bucks organization is run like @#$%. Andrew Bustgut sucks, Continuous production line of @#$%y number 1 picks, No forwards who can score, consistently worry how they can get more then two players in double figures a night...afraid they may not even get one scorer in double figures.

    They lose to a crap Phillie team with no true PG by 10 on the road and this is the healthiest the bucks will be. Eventually Redd and Bustgut will be injured again as the past proves and then this team won't have anyone at all who could post double figures. lol.
  6. Abraham F
    13. Posted by Abraham F Fri Oct 30 11:58pm EDT

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    Philly's got talent, but I'm concerned about Brand's health from the last couple of years and the lack of a true point guard. The East is really tough, and twelve teams will fight for eight slots. They can't afford to lose any more people In Andre and Samuel. They already lost an experienced point guard in Andre Miller. Best of luck to them this year.
  7. acenando
    12. Posted by acenando Fri Oct 30 10:58pm EDT

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    skiles is dumb for letting ramon go
  8. scott
    11. Posted by scott Fri Oct 30 10:25pm EDT

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    First of 70 losses for the bucks!
  9. Steven
    10. Posted by Steven Fri Oct 30 10:08pm EDT

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    get charles barkely , AI , and dr.j back!
  10. Lind
    9. Posted by Lind Fri Oct 30 7:35pm EDT

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    76ers need Barkley back, Bucks need a new owner.
  11. Math_Maestro
    8. Posted by Math_Maestro Fri Oct 30 7:02pm EDT

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    I am for Philidelphie Phillies in MLB's 2009 World Series. But in their NBA 2009 Season "DEBUT" I am for Milwaukee Bucks. The Reason is because their 2990-2010 regular season started LAST!
  12. Tim
    6. Posted by Tim Fri Oct 30 4:56pm EDT

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    I took Redd in my fantasy basketball league pretty early. I mean, really, who else on the team is a legit scorer? I just hope he and Bogut can stay healthy and the Bucks can suprise some folks and contend for a playoff spot.
  13. Brian W
    5. Posted by Brian W Fri Oct 30 4:55pm EDT

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    all rite we got a different team this year, we might have lost miller, but i think lou is now fully developed and we finally got some 3 point shooting, jason kapono, and hopefully brand plays for what he's worth and stays healthy, so i look for us to have a very intresting season this year, glad we're back to the retro logo

    Go Sixers!
  14. Derek
    4. Posted by Derek Fri Oct 30 1:52pm EDT

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    philly sports are trash just like their fans.......
  15. the diddler
    3. Posted by the diddler Fri Oct 30 12:20pm EDT

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    How can you be a 6ers fan and hate on Iggy? He's the best thing about your team. He has the best +/- in the league when he's on the court for your boys. You'd rather have Jax in your clubhouse? Why not bring back the other AI? Good the Captain isn't head of the 6ers ship.
  16. CAPTAIN
    2. Posted by CAPTAIN Fri Oct 30 5:32am EDT

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    Philly is a promising young team.I really feel if Speights is playing that well he need to be a starter. I also feel if our two highest paid players dont get it together this season maybe its time for a change. I been with philly for 28 years and will remain a fan win or lose. Right is right though. Money dont win games. Dont let them two players destroy a promising season. Hopefully Brand can stay healthy and get back to his power playing ways. Iguodala still look like he dont work hard during the off season. His game has not improved at any faze of the game. I truly feel the money went to his head. Hopefully he will prove me wrong. At this time I feel his game done peaked. He is a better forward than gaurd, but his defense isnt good, and his jumper is below average. Iguodala is the most over rated player in the league. I want to see philly battle for a championship, not just make the playoff. With the team they have. They can go far only if they realize money dont make you a championship team. We need to trade Dalembert and Iguodala for Stephen Jackson because it seems both of them dont want to play for philly. Go Sixers .
  17. CAPTAIN
    1. Posted by CAPTAIN Fri Oct 30 5:29am EDT

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    Philly is a promising young team.I really feel if Speights is playing that well he need to be a starter. I also feel if our two highest paid players dont get it together this season maybe its time for a change. I been with philly for 28 years and will remain a fan win or lose. Right is right though. Money dont win games. Dont let them two players destroy a promising season. Hopefully Brand can stay healthy and get back to his power playing ways. Iguodala still look like he dont work hard during the off season. His game has not improved at any faze of the game. I truly feel the money went to his head. Hopefully he will prove me wrong. At this time I feel his game done peaked. He is a better forward than gaurd, but his defense isnt good, and his jumper is below average. Iguodala is the most over rated player in the league. I want to see philly battle for a championship, not just make the playoff. With the team they have. They can go far only if they realize money dont make you a championship team. We need to trade Dalembert and Iguodala for Stephen Jackson because it seems both of them dont want to play for philly. Go Sixers .
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Top Performers

 Top Performers
 Milwaukee
B. Jennings Brandon Jennings
7-16,  17 Pts
9 Rebs, 9 Assists
 Philadelphia
A. Iguodala Andre Iguodala
6-12,  19 Pts
9 Rebs, 7 Assists

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