Sixers Notes: Holiday, Turner are starting duo

DALLAS - The 76ers' backcourt of the future is now.

Coach Doug Collins appears to have settled on second-year point guard Jrue Holiday and rookie shooting guard Evan Turner as starters.

It took an injury to swingman Andre Iguodala, formerly the team's shooting guard, to open space in the starting lineup for Turner. But even with Iguodala healthy Friday night against the Dallas Mavericks, Collins kept intact his young backcourt of Holiday and Turner.

Iguodala returned Friday to the starting lineup, but he was moved to small forward.

Collins noted that Holiday and Turner "are playing very well together."

"And early in the year, in preseason, they weren't," he said. "And I think they've really found a nice fit together, and that's exciting for us because a big part of our future hinges on those two guys."

Before the game, Sixers forward Andres Nocioni commented on the $25,000 fine he received from the NBA for tossing his mouthpiece into the Oklahoma City Arena stands Wednesday night.

"Yeah, I was frustrated," Nocioni said. "I tried to throw my mouthpiece to the trainer. I slipped a little bit."

He slipped a lot. The mouthpiece ricocheted off something in the stands, changed trajectory, and was caught by a fan. A Sixers security employee retrieved it.

Nocioni said he wouldn't be wearing a mouthpiece on Friday night because he misplaced his.

Did the fine surprise him?

"Not really. I was expecting it . . .," Nocioni said. "NBA has the big brother, the camera everywhere."

Comcast SportsNet's color commentator, Eric Snow, became ill Friday, causing him to miss the game. In his place, Sixers general manager Ed Stefanski teamed with play-by-play man Marc Zumoff to call the game.

For the first time this season, the Sixers had a couple of game-time decisions: Iguodala and combo guard Lou Williams. Iguodala, who has right Achilles tendinitis, and Williams, dealing with a sore left shoulder, played.

Sixers forward Jason Kapono, who missed Wednesday night's game against the Thunder for personal reasons, returned to the active lineup.

With a full roster of available players, Collins moved rookie Craig Brackins and veteran forward Darius Songaila to the inactive list. Collins kept guard Jodie Meeks activated, saying the team "needs him to play."

-Kate Fagan