Yao Ming leads Rockets to 105-91 win at 76ers
(AP)
Updated: 2005-10-12 09:46

The loss spoiled Maurice Cheeks' coaching debut, who returned to the organization where he was an All-Star point guard and his retired No. 10 jersey hangs from the rafters.

Cheeks, who led Philadelphia to its last championship in 1983, was greeted warmly by the sparse crowd during pregame introductions.

Cheeks was a popular choice to replace Jim O'Brien, who was fired after only one season.

"It's been a long time coming, from back in March to now," Cheeks said. "I'm glad it's here. It feels familiar."

That wasn't the only familiar part.

Iguodala certainly picked up with his spectacular dunks where he left off last season. There was little need to pay attention to the highlight reel of last year's dunks, complete with Onyk's "Slam!" as the musical accompaniment, when Iguodala was wowing the crowd in person.

There was a reverse alley-oop off a pass from Korver and another high-flying, out-of-nowhere slam near the end of the second quarter. On the next possession, he ended the half with - what's this? - a rare jumper at the buzzer for a 56-54 lead.

Sixers rookie forward Shavlik Randolph will miss another two to four weeks with a stress fracture in his left foot. Randolph was hurt in the first practice on the first day of camp and was originally listed with a sprained left foot, including on Tuesday's injury report.