It is (mostly) all about friendship and good will this time of the year.

–The Sixers are averaging 9.0 steals in the last six games after averaging 6.4 steals in the five previous games.
–The Sixers are 7-1 when scoring 100-plus points this season, as well as 7-3 when shooting the same percentage or better than their opponent and 4-0 when shooting at least .500.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “I was disappointed with our defensive intensity in the second half. We made it easy for them. We were not at the top of our game.

If the Sixers are going to win on their five-game Western Conference trip over the holidays, they’d better beat the Clippers on Wednesday evening.
After losing to the Nuggets and Jazz, and with the two remaining games against the Mavericks and Spurs, the Clippers would seem to be their best chance for a victory.
The Clippers are just 3-12 at the Staples Center, where they’ve already lost to Golden State and Sacramento (a combined 5-25 on the road).

ROTATION: Starters — Point guard Andre Miller, Shooting guard Willie Green, Small forward Andre Iguodala, Power forward Thaddeus Young, Center Samuel Dalembert. Bench — Guard Lou Williams, Forward Reggie Evans, Forward/Center Marreese Speights, Guard Kareem Rush.
PLAYER NOTES:
–G Willie Green attempted four free throws in the loss to the Jazz after not getting to the line in any of his four previous outings.

Both the Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Clippers wanted to sign Elton Brand this summer. Right now, neither team has him in the lineup - and it shows.

With Brand still working his way back from a dislocated shoulder, both his current and former teams will look to avoid a fifth straight loss when they face off Wednesday at Staples Center.

In seven seasons with the Clippers, Brand averaged 20.3 points and 10.

Forget the standard cliche’ of giving 110 percent. On Monday night, Mehmet Okur said he could only play at about 75 percent because of a nagging lower-back injury.

In the morning, Deron Williams was asked if he remembered the Jazz’s prior game against Philadelphia - and how 76ers point guard Andre Miller pounced on circumstances at the time.

Who deserves to be at the top of the latest NBA Power Poll? The Christmas Day game tells the story.

The Nuggets once again showed Thomas Halzack they have no heart. Check out his full Monday review.

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah’s power players are hurting, and Deron Williams has been for most of the…