Nor Cal Basketball

PHILADELPHIA -- Thaddeus Young scored 18 points, Lou Williams had 17 and the Philadelphia 76ers routed the winless Kings 125-91 Monday night.

Willie Green scored 16 points and Elton Brand had 15 for the Sixers, who were up 20 points at halftime and were able to stretch the lead in the second half instead of blowing it like they did Saturday at Atlanta.

In that one, the Hawks rallied from a 23-point deficit to stun the Sixers. This time, role players like Green and Williams kept making shots in the third quarter and to keep the road-weary Kings from rallying.

Jason Thompson scored 17 points and Spencer Hawes had 15 for the Kings (0-4), who can't wait to head home after a dreary season-opening road trip. The Kings start a four-game homestand on Wednesday against Memphis.

The Sixers have been one of the worst three-point shooting teams in the NBA the past few seasons, and this one was no exception. They shot only 32 percent (13 for 41) in their first three games, but seemed to discover their long-range form against the Kings, finishing 10 of 13.

Sixers coach Maurice Cheeks said he learned a lesson after blowing the big lead over the weekend and would try and play a deeper rotation late in the game.

He used 10 players in the third quarter and all but Samuel Dalembert scored. Even Kareem Rush, the free-agent three-point threat who's been buried at the end of the bench, saw playing time and hit a three for a 92-65 lead.

Posted on Mon, 03 Nov 2008 19:07:59 PST at http://www.sacbee.com/kings/story/1368181.html