Sam Donnellon of the Dialy News writes that the Sixers are showing flashes of last year's success. They offer slivers of hope that this season of discombobulating basketball will come together suddenly like a brilliant piece of jazz, as healthy bodies return, or at least serviceable ones. There are times a possession, or a stop, looks a lot as it did last year, the ball moving fluidly between five hands for an open look or clear drive, bodies hitting the floor as the ball is nudged from opponent's hands.

Mostly though, they just persevere.

They are playing through numerous injuries in an attempt to hang on to their playoff position. The Sixers are a car ride with the dial on "E." Is there enough left to make it to the playoffs? Do they have enough firepower to, in the words of their coach, "hold the fort until the little guy gets back"?

"We're a M*A*S*H unit out there" Larry Brown said.

In last night's win over Phoenix, Derrick Coleman dragged his bad left leg up and down the court for 36 minutes. Aaron McKie is just returning from a high ankle sprain and needed a cortisone shot for a rotator cuff injury. He played 32 minutes and scored 22 points, including six in the final minutes of regulation that rallied his team into overtime. Speedy Claxton asked out of the game in the first half and didn't return. The lingering effects of a concussion suffered Saturday against the Nets made him nauseated. He will be re-evaluated today.

And then there was Eric Snow. After being in the middle of the ugliness, his jumper early in overtime gave the Sixers a lead they would not lose. Normally one to give interviews only after being dressed, a huge ice pack around his right ankle forced him to waive that condition last night.

"That could have been another ugly, ugly, ugly loss," he said. "Instead, it was an ugly win."