by The Philadelphia Inquirer

They managed that mostly by using the hot hand of all-star point guard Devin Harris , who darted through the lane like a Porsche through traffic, averaging 24.0 points a game.

Last night at the Wachovia Center, the Sixers played the Nets for the first time this season.

Harris was sidelined with an injury; five other Nets were out with injuries or illness.

Harris had a strained right groin, forward Yi Jianlian was out with a sprained right knee ligament, and Chris Douglas-Roberts was suffering from flu symptoms. They make up three-fifths of the Nets' traditional starting lineup.

Forward Tony Battie , guard Keyon Dooling , and forward Jarvis Hayes also missed the game.

The Nets suited nine players.

"We need to outwork them," Sixers coach Eddie Jordan said. "Just gut it out, because this team is undermanned, and that's what they're hanging their hat on - to outwork us and get things done and make it a scrappy game."

The centerpiece

The only starter from last season's New Jersey team that was not sidelined last night - or traded during the off-season – was center Brook Lopez .

Lopez, in his second NBA season, dominated the Sixers in one game last season as a rookie, scoring 24 points and grabbing 17 rebounds.

This season, Lopez is averaging 16.2 points and 7.2 boards a game.

Before last night's game, Sixers center Samuel Dalembert explained the situation:

"When you have a rookie, you put them in a situation where you guard other guys and kind of let them pop up, and you can get back to him a little bit late. But as the person is showing you more, then you're like, 'OK, now we have to play him and pay attention a little bit more.' "

A few minutes later, Jordan commented on Dalembert's words.

"If that was an excuse, then that's not going to be an excuse tonight," Jordan said. ". . . We know what he can do; he's legitimate."

Primoz again

Jordan kept center Primoz Brezec on the inactive list last night, making it the fourth consecutive game that Brezec has been inactive.

- Kate Fagan

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