Philadelphia 76ers steal 104-101 victory at home over Phoenix Suns – NBA News
The Philadelphia 76ers improved to an 8-6 win loss record on Sunday night after defeating the travelling Phoenix Suns in a close game here at the Wells Fargo Center. The Sixers were led by Jrue Holiday, who had the game of his career, and ensured that his team came out with the victory. Holiday finished with 33 points and 13 assists as he led the Sixers from the front. Evan Turner added 16 points and 9 rebounds where as Lavoy Allen finished with 11 points and 6 rebounds. Michael Beasley finished with 21 points for the night, going 8 of 13 from the field to lead the Suns. Marcin Gortat added 18 points and 7 rebounds while going 7 of 11 from the field.
The Sixers started the game hot with back to back three pointers by Turner and quickly compiled an 8-0 lead, but a slam dunk by Gortat cut the lead down to four. Beasley then nailed a finger roll and tied the game at 14, as the Suns found their rhythm on the offence. Holiday’s jump shot put the Sixers back ahead 19-16, and Jared Dudley scored a jump shot for the Suns in the final seconds of the period to have the Suns trailing 20-23 at the end of the period.
Phoenix started the second period on a 7-0 run and took a 27-23 lead early on, and a turnaround jump shot by Jermaine O’Neal made it 33-28. The Sixers responded with six straight points, taking a 34-33 lead over the visitors. A three pointer by Shannon Brown gave the Suns a 39-36 lead, but the Sixers closed the period on a 7-1 run, capped off by a three pointer by Jason Richardson in the final minute to give the home team a 46-41 lead at halftime.
Phoenix came close to taking the lead yet again early in the third period, but the Sixers scored consistently to keep a 56-55 lead in the early going, and a three pointer by Holiday put them up 59-55. Gortat scored the next five points to put Phoenix up 60-59, but a 9-0 run by the Sixers later in the period gave then an 80-70 lead. Goran Dragic then scored a three pointer and Luis Scola hit two free throws to end the period as the Suns trailed 75-80.
The Suns scored the first six points of the final period to take an 81-80 lead, but the Sixers replied with a 7-0 run to once again move ahead 89-83. A three pointer by Evan Turner later put the Sixers up 94-87, but back to back field goals by Beasley followed by a jump shot by O’Neal had the Suns trailing 97-98 with a little over a minute to go. Holiday nailed a pull up jumper to out the Sixers up 102-99, and after Morris hit a layup, Holiday scored on one of two free throws. Beasley missed a game tying layup and the Sixers won 104-101.
Philadelphia shot 48.1 percent from the field and 47.4 percent from three point range, compared with a 4 of 11 three point shooting performance from Phoenix. The Suns had a 41-33 advantage in rebounds, but the Sixers had four fewer turnovers and were led by Holiday in the end.
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