The Sixers scatter for the holidays

The 76ers are dispersing for the holiday.

After Wednesday night's 84-80 loss to the Boston Celtics, the players were allowed to fly to their respective homes for the Christmas holiday and will reconvene in Denver for their game against the Nuggets on Sunday.

Most players hopped an early flight out of Philadelphia on Thursday morning.

In past seasons, the Sixers have often held practices on the days before Christmas, but Sixers coach Doug Collins decided to give his players a quick breather before they continue on their holiday road trip.

"It's probably good for us to have a day or two apart," said guard Jodie Meeks.

The 11-18 Sixers are in the middle of a 15-day road trip that includes six more games and takes them into the new year.

After finishing a stretch of 11 games with a record of 8-3, the Sixers suffered a 45-point loss to the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday night and then, on the second night of a back-to-back, lost to the Celtics at TD Garden on Wednesday night.

For the Celtics, who are 23-4, it was their 14th consecutive victory.

"We've won games in the 100s," said Celtics forward Paul Pierce of the streak. "We've won games in the 80s. That's the versatility of this team this year. We just are finding ways to grind it out. We don't know who is going to be out there each night. No excuses, we just find a way."

The Sixers seemed pleased to have competed with one of the NBA's best teams.

"We showed a lot of character and a lot of heart," said Sixers power forward Elton Brand. "That's more what this team is like. It's disappointing . . . but we played strong, we played well."

The schedule. Beginning Sunday, the Sixers continue their road trip, which includes games against the Nuggets, the Golden State Warriors, the Phoenix Suns, the Los Angeles Lakers, and the New Orleans Hornets. The Sixers, who play the Hornets on Jan. 3, will not play again at the Wells Fargo Center until Jan. 5.