No respite in schedule for reeling Sixers

LOS ANGELES - Whatever playoff hopes, real or rhetorical, the 76ers possessed coming out of the all-star break have since been dashed.

In their first five games since the NBA's long-weekend sabbatical, the Sixers are 2-3. In all three losses, they trailed in the second half by at least 22 points.

And just when the Sixers needed a cushy opponent, someone sure to bring them one victory closer to continued playoff talk, the Sixers play at the Los Angeles Lakers, defending NBA champions. Two days after that, the Sixers play the Orlando Magic, defending Eastern Conference champions.

Entering tonight's game against the Lakers, the Sixers are 22-35. The Milwaukee Bucks, 28-28, hold the Eastern Conference's final playoff spot.

The Sixers did not practice yesterday.

On Wednesday night against the Phoenix Suns, the Sixers lost, 106-95, trailing by as many as 22 points in the third quarter. For only the second time this season, and the first time Phoenix's US Airways Center, the Suns led from start to finish. Their strong beginning came from point guard Steve Nash, who had 14 points on 6-for-6 shooting by halftime.

Nash finished with 20 points and 13 assists.

"They've got some really tricky plays and some good guys that can shoot the basketball," said Sixers guard Lou Williams after Wednesday's loss. "Obviously you have your hands full dealing with Steve Nash. He did a really good job of coming out and creating a spark for his team." Phoenix power forward Amar'e Stoudemire scored 22 points, 14 in the second half.

"Nash was high-level and Stoudemire was very good," said Sixers coach Eddie Jordan. "We just couldn't get a handle on those guys."

Injuries. Both Willie Green (shoulder) and big man Jason Smith (ankle) are listed as game-time decisions tonight. Green hasn't played since injuring his left shoulder against the Miami Heat on Feb. 16; Smith hasn't played since spraining his right ankle against the Toronto Raptors on Feb. 10.

Sitting the starters. In the fourth quarter of Wednesday's game, Jordan did not play starters Andre Iguodala, Elton Brand, or Samuel Dalembert. Jordan went almost exclusively with a lineup of Lou Williams, Rodney Carney, Jason Kapono, Thaddeus Young, and Marreese Speights.

Meeks update. Since joining the Sixers via a deadline-day trade from the Bucks, guard Jordan Meeks has played in three games, totaling 9 minutes, 8 seconds of playing time. In that time, Meeks is 0 for 5 from the field, 0 for 2 from the three-point line, and 1 for 1 from the free-throw line.

End of the road. Tonight's game is the last in a road trip that spanned a week and included four games.

The Sixers return to the Wachovia Center to play the Magic on March 1.