Larry Brown reviewed the NBA standings and pointed out the math to his team.

Before the 76ers played the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night, the Sixers were six games out of first place in the Atlantic Division and, more important, a game and a half out of a playoff spot.

That reminder could have brought desperation. But for the Sixers, it brought relief.

"We looked at it as we're a game and a half back and we haven't been playing well with 50 games left," Eric Snow said. "We're trying to find a positive situation and build off it instead of a negative."