76ers 115, Nets 90
Thaddeus Young scored 22 points off the bench and sparked two big runs as the host Philadelphia 76ers clinched a playoff spot with a 115-90 victory over the listless New Jersey Nets Friday night.
Elton Brand collected 21 points and seven rebounds and Jrue Holiday added 17 and seven assists for the 76ers (40-36), who completed a second straight, four-game season sweep against the Nets and moved 2½ games ahead of idle New York (37-38) for sixth in the East.
Brandan Wright had 15 points and 11 rebounds but Deron Williams scored just four on 2-of-8 shooting as the Nets (23-52) dropped their fifth straight and ninth of 10.
Philadelphia took control when Young scored six points during a 13-2 run that provided the Sixers a 42-27 lead with seven minutes left in the half. Philadelphia closed on a 7-1 run to take a 60-43 advantage at the break.
New Jersey closed within 64-53 three minutes into the second half, but Young scored 10 points as the Sixers closed the period on a 30-12 run and cruised to their third straight win.