Lou Williams totaled 18 points, nine
rebounds and six assists, helping the Sixers to a 97-94 win and sending the
reeling Nets to their worst start in franchise history.
Andre Iguodala scored 16 points, including a key three-pointer late in the
fourth, while also tying up New Jersey's Terrence Williams on an attempt at a
game-tying three-ball at the buzzer.
Jason Kapono knocked down 4-of-6 from beyond the arc to finish with 14 points
for the Sixers, who most recently lost to Boston on Tuesday.
Brook Lopez posted 22 points and 11 rebounds for the Nets, who began the
season with six straight losses for the first time.
Veteran forward Trenton Hassell, thrust into a starting role with the Nets
racked by injury, had 17 points and 12 rebounds while Rafer Alston scored 14
and handed out six assists.
New Jersey has been without star guard Devin Harris the last four games
because of a strained groin. In addition, the club was without forward Yi
Jianlian, out with a right MCL injury, and the flu-stricken Chris Douglas-
Roberts.
After ending the third quarter up five, New Jersey continued to wield a hot
hand early on in the fourth. But the three-ball helped the Sixers remain close
as Rodney Carney delivered from downtown and Kapono sank a pair from long
distance to keep it a two-possession game, 83-79, at the nine-minute mark.
Willie Green's pullup jumper tied it at 87 for Philadelphia a short time later
and Lou Williams' layup with just under four minutes left gave the hosts a
90-88 edge.
The teams traded baskets and two free throws from Lopez again tied the game at
92 before Iguodala drained a three-pointer at the two-minute mark for a 95-92
edge.
Alston got to the rim for two with the clock showing 50.8 for a 95-94 margin
while Thaddeus Young was sent to the line on the other end, making one of two
to make it 96-94 with 21.8 showing.
Eduardo Najera put in on the floor, muscling his way down toward the hoop
before pulling up for a floater that banked off glass but found only rim.
Iguodala secured the board and hit one of two at the line for a three-point
game.
Terrence Williams was stripped of the ball while trying to hoist a game-tying
three-pointer, sealing the Sixers' win.
Despite being severely shorthanded, the Nets owned a slim 20-18 edge after the
opening 12 minutes. Things remained tight in the second, as Philadelphia
opened up a six-point advantage on Jason Smith's jumper and a pair of Marreese
Speights free throws only to see New Jersey score the next eight points.
A Lou Williams three-pointer gave the hosts a 50-47 halftime lead.
A solid third quarter, buoyed by a 12-4 run through the middle of the session,
had the Nets out to a 73-68 advantage entering the fourth.
Game Notes
New Jersey swept the four-game season series with Philadelphia a year ago and
had won two in a row and three of four trips to the Wachovia Center prior to
Friday's defeat...The Sixers shot 50.0 percent from the field and made half of
their 16 three-point attempts...New Jersey connected on 47.0 percent of its
shots, but hit just 4-of-14 (28.6 percent) from three-point land...Speights
finished with 10 points and Smith nine for the hosts...Bobby Simmons scored 10
and Najera nine for the Nets in defeat.
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