"Everything finally caught up to the 76ers.

They were playing for the second straight game without their top two centers. They were undersized and undermanned against the Nets. That was exacerbated when Elton Brand fouled out and Thaddeus Young played most of the game through a lower back contusion.

The Sixers simply ran out of steam — and bodies — in overtime and lost 97-90 to New Jersey on Wednesday.

"We definitely need our bigs," Brand said. "They've been great for us all year. We're looking forward to getting them back. We just couldn't get stops, and Thad hurt his back.""