By NOEY KUPCHAN
STATS Writer
The Philadelphia 76ers finished last season with one of the worst home records in the NBA.
A much improved defense has helped them turn that around.
Philadelphia will look to win its fourth straight at home and sweep a season series from the Suns for the first time in nine years Monday night.
After road losses to Orlando and Charlotte by a combined four points, the 76ers (18-25) returned home to defeat Utah 96-85 on Saturday night. Philadelphia held the Jazz to 42.0 percent shooting and improved to 13-7 at Wells Fargo Center - surpassing its 12 home victories from 2009-10.
"We've been playing strong on the road, we just haven't finished," said Elton Brand, who had 19 points. "There's a lot of pressure on us to come home and win, which we've been doing."
Philadelphia allowed 101.4 points per game on its home court last season, but has held opponents to an average of 93.0 in 2010-11 - a total that ranks seventh-best in the league.
While defense continues to be their catalyst, the 76ers recorded their highest point total of the season in a 123-110 win at Phoenix on Dec. 29, as seven of only eight active players scored in double figures. Jrue Holiday had 25 points on 12-of-18 shooting.
Andre Iguodala scored 22 Saturday and is averaging 20.9 points - 5.1 more than his career average - in his last seven meetings with Phoenix.
The Suns (20-22) struggled at both ends of the court late in Saturday's 75-74 loss at Detroit, ending their season-best five-game win streak. They squandered a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter, getting outscored 28-13 in the final 12 minutes.
"We have to finish games, that's the bottom line," Suns coach Alvin Gentry said. "We have to play for 48 minutes, even though it may be the oldest clich
