76ers to NBA Playoffs

Wanting to clinch a playoff berth at home, Philadelphia coach Tony DiLeo relied on Andre Iguodala and Andre Miller, and they came though for the 76ers in a 95-90 win over the Detroit Pistons on Saturday.

Playing the entire second half, Iguodala scored 16 of his season-high 31 points, and Miller added a triple-double with 21 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds, and the 76ers advanced to the playoffs for the second straight season.

"We took a little gamble playing Andre and Andre the whole second half, but we felt we had to do it," DiLeo said. "Miller had a great game with the triple-double and Andre Iguodala had the high score, so those two guys really stepped it up."

Detroit led by 12 points in the second half and took an 88-87 lead with 2:17 left in the game after Rodney Stuckey made two free throws. But Miller made three free throws and Reggie Evans added two more with 39 seconds left for a 92-88 lead. Stuckey banked two foul shots with 22.7 seconds left, cutting the lead to 92-90, but Miller answered with two more.

Iguodala scored the final point for the Sixers, and the crowd celebrated. Miller and Iguodala also combined on feeds that resulted in impressive Iguodala dunks.

"Tomorrow's game is even more important than this one," said guard Richard Hamilton, who scored 12 of his 15 points in the second half. "We definitely need to get a win."
  Miller recorded his ninth career triple double when he grabbed his 10th rebound with 30 seconds remaining.

Detroit still leads Charlotte for the eighth and final spot.
 
Philadelphia will use its final seven regular-season games to determine its seed in the Eastern Conference. The 76ers sit fifth in the conference after Saturday's win, a half-game ahead of Miami.

The 76ers will play the New Jersey Nets tomorrow.
 

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