Lou Williams shines as the Sixers trounce the Bobcats 96-92
Hitting a mix of bank shots, hooks and turnaround jumpers - Lou Williams put up a sensational 23-point effort, to help the Philadelphia 76ers overcome the Charlotte Bobcats 96-92 at Wells Fargo Centre.
Sixers Power Forward Elton Brand praised his side after the win. He said, "It's a huge win for us. Earlier in the season, we might not have won this game. I think a win like this can only help our confidence as a team."
Andre Iguodala stayed hot as he finished with 16 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists for the Sixers, who won their 17th game of the 2010-11 season. Elton Brand also had an impressive night, as he registered a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds
in the home victory. Jrue Holiday and Marreese Speights finished with 10 points apiece for the 76ers, who won their first overtime game of the 2010-11 season.
Boris Diaw who looks rejuvenated with Charlotte, finished with his sixth career triple-double; consisting of 25 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists. Kwame Brown played a simple but effective game as he picked up season-highs with 15 points and 16 rebounds
in the defeat. Stephen Jackson ended with 15 points, seven assists, and six rebounds in Charlotte’s 24th defeat of the season.
Match Analysis
The whole contest revolved around Iguodala’s sizzling 19-foot jumper with 37.6 seconds left to break the deadlock at 90 points. When it was over, the Sixers registered their 12th home win, equalling the amount of home wins they managed in all of last season.
Philadelphia and Charlotte started ice cold. However, the Bobcats managed to make it to the free throw line early, taking a 23-22 lead into the second.
The game continued at a slow pace in the second quarter, as both sides played some sloppy basketball, but the Sixers found a way to take a 41-39 advantage into half time.
The 76ers played offensively, as Diaw opened the third quarter with a three from the left edge, and Holiday ended the run with a lay-up. However, the Bobcats responded with a Wallace three-pointer and Augustin’s pull-up jumper to extend their lead to 52-42.
The Sixers got going defensively halfway through the third, as they went on a lengthy 19-3 run, to take a 65-59 lead into the fourth quarter.
In the final stanza, Philadelphia stretched their lead to 73-61, with a Williams driving lay-up. The Bobcats fought hard to make the score a respectable one, and Jackson ended with a three-pointer to give Charlotte an 81-79 lead early in the fourth. By the
end of the quarter, Williams three-pointer tied the game at 86 for good.
Bobcats coach Paul Silas was not happy with the extension of the game into the overtime as he said, "I was mostly disappointed with the last shot they made because we were supposed to switch out on that and didn't and [Williams] got a wide-open look."
With the scores tied at 90-90, Stephen Jackson and Gerald Wallace each missed wide-open three-pointers. If one of them had scored, it could possibly have been a different story. The Sixers held a 92-90 advantage at Iguodala’s jumper with 37.9 seconds to
go. After that Philadelphia pulled away, and sealed the contest for a hard-fought win.
Although the Bobcats lost the game, Coach Paul Silas is still not disappointed. He said, “We're fighting hard to stay in games and we're not just giving up. We'll get there. We'll learn and we'll get there."
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