(Associated Press)

In the 76ers’ win Saturday, everything had to go right for them to break out of their two-month slump.

It wasn’t just a matter of making shots, which they did. Or the Detroit Pistons rolling over, which they did. Looking at the box score and speaking with players from both sides revealed just how imbalanced the game was, in the Sixers’ favor.

Granted, the Pistons were on tired legs after getting thrashed a night earlier by visiting Miami. But fatigue was not the sole reason behind the Sixers’ ability to snap a 26-game losing streak that matched the NBA record. Listless play from Detroit was another.

“There was no effort tonight, absolutely no effort,” Pistons big man Greg Monroe said.

“They wanted it more than we did,” added Pistons guard Rodney Stuckey.

When Sixers reserves Casper Ware and Elliot Williams are able to run a fastbreak alley-oop connection between one another, outrunning two Pistons in the process … yeah, that’s usually a solid indicator that the other team got outhustled and outworked. When Detroit’s second-leading scorer, Brandon Jennings, gets tossed in the first quarter with two technical for arguing a lack of foul calls … yep, another good indicator for the Sixers.

Here are a few numbers from the stat sheet, which went a long way toward assuring the Sixers of their first victory in two months:

• The Sixers scored 123 points. Their season average is 99.
• They held Detroit to 98 points. Their season average is a league-worst 110.
• They shot 52.2 percent. Their season average is 43.0 percent, second-worst in the league.
• They shot 57.1 percent from 3-point range. Their season average is a league-worst 31.0 percent.
• Reserve big man Jarvis Varnado established career-highs with 9 points and 6 blocked shots.

The Sixers played their best game in 60 days, yes. They caught a break with Jennings’ meltdown, for sure. And the Pistons’ lack of effort took care of the rest, helping the Sixers stave off infamy.

“It’s not something I want to be a part of, so it’s great we got this win,” Sixers rookie Michael Carter-Williams said.

(Associated Press)

Last night, Royal Ivey gave the Sixers 18 minutes off the bench, with five points, three rebounds and an assist. More importantly, Ivey gave them something that didn't show up in the box score.

Sixers coach Doug Collins turned to Ivey in the second half, hoping he'd help slow down Milwaukee's Brandon Jennings. There really wasn't any hindering Jennings' game, which took the form of a 33-point display in the Bucks' victory.

"I was reaching in the grab bag, trying to find anything I could to get us back in the game," Collins said.

“In the second half, we held them to 43 points. We picked up our defense. I think part of that was I put Royal Ivey in the game. And in a game like tonight, he has to play with his speed and quickness because he’s one of the few guys on our team that can guard somebody like a Jennings or a Monta Ellis because they’re just so fast"

In the preseason, it seemed as though rookie Maalik Wayns would run the Sixers' second-team offense. But Wayns struggled out of the gate and, ever since, his minutes have waned. So Collins has turned to Ivey off the bench, for sure-handed play and occasional scoring from a veteran. That's been especially desirable of late, with Jrue Holiday turning the ball over with regularity.

In any case, and in any role, Ivey wants to play...even if it means being tasked with slowing down a speedster like Jennings.

"Man, he’s a tough guard," Ivey said, "but that’s what I live for – trying to stop one of the better guards, one of the better perimeter players, one of the better point guards in the league. I look forward to those challenges. Hopefully I get another shot and hopefully I succeed. I’m looking forward to the next one."

(Associated Press)

Sam Dalembert and Brandon Jennings are not Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. And Monta Ellis is nowhere near Rajon Rondo.

Still, the point to be made is this: No matter who’s on the floor, the 76ers aren’t going to be “intimidated.” Those are Evan Turner’s words, not mine.

The other day, after the win at Boston, Turner told reporters he and the Sixers from a season ago would’ve coughed up their 106-100 win over the Celtics. He intimated that they would’ve found a way to lose, especially when a veteran Boston team began to close in on their once-14-point lead, in a hostile environment like a near-capacity Boston Garden.

Plain and simple – whether it’s tonight at home against Ellis, Jennings and Milwaukee or Wednesday night against winless Detroit or even rematches with the Celtics or the New York Knicks, the Sixers won’t play scared.

“We’re not intimidated. We want more,” Turner said. “We keep progressing. Every single game is important. We don’t walk out onto the court and go, ‘Oh my gosh, it’s Paul Pierce,’ or ‘Oh my gosh, it’s LeBron,’ or ‘It’s Carmelo.’ You expect to win. That’s progressing.”

Big words from the third-year swingman, who had a solid three-game stretch to help the Sixers sweep a roadtrip of three games or more for the first time since 2003. Let's see if he and the Sixers can use his words as a springboard to further successes.