No letdown as Sixers blow by Timberwolves

MINNEAPOLIS - Abraham Lincoln's words, or at least Doug Collins' paraphrasing of them, were voiced in the 76ers' locker room before the game.

Honest Abe's saying goes something like this: Men aren't judged on their humility during times of adversity, but rather after gaining power.

The broad translation for the Sixers reads something like this: Now that you've proven yourselves as an up-and-coming team, can you remain focused and professional on all nights, against all teams?

The narrow translation is even simpler: Beat the Minnesota Timberwolves.

So the Sixers did that, 107-87.

Exactly 24 hours after defeating the NBA-best San Antonio Spurs, the Sixers were just as impressive against the Timberwolves.

Collins said he wasn't convinced his team could have won this game earlier in the season, and Andre Iguodala sees a team that has climbed off the sea-tossed ship and found solid ground.

"When you have big wins like we had, the next game, against supposedly a lesser opponent, is a tougher game," said Iguodala, who scored 15 points.

"It's more important in a sense. It shows where the team is as far as not having too many ups and downs."

On Saturday night inside the Target Center, the Sixers didn't look tired from dancing past the Spurs; they looked eager for another win.

With just two games remaining before the all-star break, the Sixers improved to two games under .500: 26-28. The Timberwolves dropped to 13-41.

"We were trying to sort of figure them out, what they were doing on offense," Collins explained of the game's start. "They had a big first quarter, and then after that we really got a good grasp of them."

Minnesota, which received below-average numbers of 16 points and 13 rebounds from Kevin Love, shot 55 percent in the first quarter and staked a 32-28 lead.

Across the next three quarters, the Timberwolves scored just 55 points and finished the game shooting 36.4 percent.

"I was definitely confident that we could find a way to win, but I didn't think we'd win by 20," said Sixers power forward Elton Brand, who finished with 12 points. ". . . We came out very professional, and it shows our growth."

The game officially became a blowout with 5 minutes, 48 seconds remaining, when Sixers forward Thaddeus Young nailed a 19-foot, step-back jumper. Young's shot gave the Sixers a 98-80 lead.

No player for the Sixers had more than 18 points - Young's total - but the team put seven players in double figures. Collins called it a "workmanlike performance."

Worried about a post-Spurs-win letdown and a previously immature team, Collins evoked the timeless words of the 16th president.

"I said, 'We're coming in here, we've had some success, and we'll see now how we handle this,' " Collins relayed. "We know we bounce back when we've had our hearts broken, so let's see how we do this."

Done quite well.