Finally, some rest for 76ers

The 76ers received a well-deserved day of rest on Sunday after a much-needed win the evening before.

Saturday's 102-86 victory over the New Jersey Nets, in which the Sixers outscored the visitors, 36-20, in the fourth quarter, snapped a three-game losing streak. It also ended a difficult week of games, even by NBA standards.

The week began with Tuesday's 116-114 loss in Washington, followed by Wednesday's 106-90 defeat in Toronto. On Friday, the Sixers fell at Miami, 99-90, before returning to face a rested Nets team that had been idle since suffering an 89-83 loss at Boston on Wednesday.

"We got home at 3 in morning [from Miami] and the guys come back and play and to have that kind of fourth quarter, it was fabulous," Sixers coach Doug Collins told reporters after Saturday's game.

Nets coach Avery Johnson praised the Sixers for their effort while also criticizing his team for its performance, saying he was very disappointed in the fourth-quarter showing.

"The Sixers got in at 3 o'clock in the morning and this was their fourth game in five nights or whatever," Johnson said. "Their backs were against the wall and we just didn't respond."

Second-year point guard Jrue Holiday had one of his best performances of the season, with 20 points, 13 assists, and just 1 turnover. The 13 assists tied a career high.

The one comparable performance for Holiday this season was when he had 29 points, eight assists and no turnovers in a 123-116 loss to visiting Cleveland on Nov. 5.

"He is growing every day. I can just see it," Collins said of Holiday.

The Sixers (4-13) return to action Tuesday at the Wells Fargo Center when they host the Portland Trail Blazers.