Wizards-76ers Preview

By JEFF MEZYDLO
Posted Jan 29 2013 11:54AM

Based on the way they've played of late, the Washington Wizards are confident they can bounce back from their latest defeat and possibly end their struggles in Philadelphia.

The Wizards look to avoid a fifth consecutive road loss to the inconsistent 76ers on Wednesday night.

Washington (11-32) has won seven of 11 and is 6-4 since John Wall made his season debut after returning from a knee injury. The Wizards fell 96-94 to Sacramento on Monday as Isaiah Thomas hit a floater with 1 second left, the decisive basket in a game that featured 16 ties and no lead bigger than seven points.

Emeka Okafor had 23 points with 15 rebounds while Wall scored 19 and Martell Webster added 18 for the Wizards.

"I hope it does hurt us a little bit," Washington coach Randy Wittman said. "It stings."

The Wizards shot 48.1 percent and recorded 20 assists but also committed 20 turnovers.

"We fell victim to doing too much individually," Wittman said. "Whenever we have (as many) turnovers than assists, that means we're trying to do too much on an individual basis."

While the defeat halted the Wizards' progress for the moment, they are poised to make corrections and move on.

"We have to learn from those mistakes," Webster said. "We want to show everybody we can execute. We've got to make up for it in Philadelphia and I am confident we will."

Though Washington has lost four straight at Philadelphia by an average of 21.5 points, it snapped a five-game skid in the series with a 97-76 home victory March 30.

The Wizards hope second-leading scorer Bradley Beal, averaging 13.2 points, will be able to go after a nagging wrist injury limited him to six points and three fourth-quarter minutes against the Kings.

Okafor averaged 7.0 points and 7.3 rebounds in his last four games against the 76ers while with New Orleans, but he's totaled 38 points and 31 boards in the last two contests overall.

The 76ers (18-26) hope to continue their recent home dominance over Washington while trying to rebound from a 103-100 home defeat to Memphis on Monday. Evan Turner scored a career-high 27 points but Philadelphia blew an early 17-point lead to lose for the third time in four games.

Philadelphia shot a season-high 54.2 percent but allowed the Grizzlies to shoot 56.0.

"We're playing great," Turner said. "You think bad luck just keeps rolling? Basketball's a game of runs.

"Our next step is closing off games when we have a lead. It's about execution."

Doing their best to tread water while waiting for injured center Andrew Bynum to make his Philadelphia debut sometime after the All-Star break, the 76ers have alternated wins and losses in their last eight home games.

"I think those guys have a good feel for themselves out there," Philadelphia coach Doug Collins said. "I think our guys are confident. They were in good spirits after the game.

"We're playing a Washington team that is playing good basketball. We're going to have our hands full, that's for sure."

Turner has averaged 23.3 points and 54.9 percent shooting in the last three games, but has scored 8.6 points in eight career contests versus Washington.

Holiday, Nick Young lead 76ers over Wizards

By ROB MAADDI
Posted Jan 31 2013 12:02AM

PHILADELPHIA (AP) A "DNP" next to his name was all the motivation Nick Young needed to step up his game.

Young scored 18 points in his first game against his old team, Jrue Holiday had 21 and the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Washington Wizards 92-84 Wednesday night.

Thaddeus Young and Lavoy Allen each added 14 points to help the Sixers win for just the fourth time in 13 games and seventh in 24.

Emeka Okafor had 15 points and 17 rebounds, Nene scored 16 and Martell Webster got 15 for Washington.

Young was benched by coach Doug Collins on Jan. 12 against Houston. But he not only got back on the floor, he entered the starting lineup because of a knee injury to Jason Richardson.

Doesn't look like "Swaggy P" is going to sit anytime soon.

"That DNP, it hurt," Young said. "Sitting on the sideline, I don't want to get back to that. I'm starting to buy into what the coaches are talking about."

Collins has been preaching an all-around game to Young since the Sixers signed him as a free agent.

"He has really listened as we've tried to teach," Collins said. "He's focused. I told him when he came here: `My goal is to make you a polished player, not Swaggy P the act, but a player. He has talent. I knew if he focused, he could be a terrific player. He's earned the respect of his teammates and coaches."

The Wizards dropped to 6-5 since John Wall returned from a knee injury. They were 5-28 without him and entered with the second-worst record in the NBA. Wall had nine points on 3-for-12 shooting.

"You are going to have nights like this," Wizards coach Randy Wittman said. "Their defense played real good. But you still have to get shot attempts. We had some crucial turnovers. We battled, we kept in it."

The Sixers are three games into an eight-game homestand and need to use the home-court advantage to make up some ground in the playoff race. They entered three games behind Boston for the final spot in the East. The Celtics just lost All-Star Rajon Rondo for the season with a knee injury.

Young seemed to enjoy making some big shots. Young spent his first 4 1/2 seasons in Washington before going to the Los Angeles Clippers in a trade last March. He signed a free-agent deal with Philadelphia in the offseason.

"It's a great feeling, especially when you win," Young said.

After the Wizards pulled to 50-48 in the third quarter, Young took over. He nailed consecutive 3-pointers and Allen hit a short jumper, extending the lead to 67-53.

Dorell Wright, seeing his first action in three games, gave the Sixers their biggest lead, 82-67, with a long 3-pointer early in the fourth. Spencer Hawes hit another 3, Holiday scored on a driving layup and Philadelphia withstood a late push.

The Wizards got to 89-84 with 1:40 left on Okafor's dunk. But Holiday made a free throw and then the All-Star iced it with a jumper.

The Sixers are hoping to make a push as they inch closer to getting Andrew Bynum in the lineup for the first time this season. The 7-foot center is expected to make his season and Philadelphia debut after the All-Star break. Bynum, the former Lakers All-Star, has been sidelined by bone bruises in his knees.

"We're only as good as our big men," Collins said.

The Wizards were up 28-25 going into the second quarter, but then got cold. They missed 10 of their first 11 shots in the quarter and had just five points through the first nine minutes.

Philadelphia used a 9-1 run to go up for good. Allen got it started with his second straight 17-footer and capped it with a short jumper for a 40-33 lead.

Allen's playing time had been reduced recently and he scored a total of nine points over the last four games. Allen made his first six shots and finished 7 for 10 from the floor.

Turner beat the buzzer with a pull-up shot to send the Sixers into halftime up 48-39.

NOTES: Wizards rookie guard Bradley Beal didn't play because of a sprained right wrist. ... Sixers guard Jason Richardson is headed to Colorado for a second opinion on his injured left knee. He's missed five straight games. ... Reserve Damien Wilkins wasn't with Philadelphia because of personal reasons. ... Collins coached the Wizards from 2001-03. ... Wizards have lost five straight in Philadelphia.

Notebook: Sixers 92, Wizards 84

Andy Jasner, for NBA.com
Posted Wed Jan 30, 2013 10:16 PM - Updated Wed Jan 30, 2013 10:18 PM

THE FACTS: Jrue Holiday scored 21 points, leading five players in double figures, as the Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Washington Wizards 92-84 Wednesday night at the Wells Fargo Center. Nick Young scored 18 points, Thaddeus Young and Lavoy Allen had 14 apiece and Spencer Hawes chipped in with 12. Allen was one point shy of tying his career high. With the victory, the Sixers improved to 19-26.

Nene led the Wizards (11-33) with 16 points while Emeka Okafor added 15 points and a season-high 17 rebounds. Martell Webster also scored 15 points and Trevor Ariza had 12.

QUOTABLE: "Going from DNP to the starting lineup, it's a blessing."
-- Young

THE STAT: The Sixers outscored Washington 38-26 in points in the paint. Over the past six games, Philadelphia is outscoring opponents by an average of 8.7 points in the paint.

TURNING POINT: After the Wizards climbed back within 82-71, the Sixers responded with five straight points -- a 3-pointer from the baseline by Hawes and a nifty drive by Holiday for an 87-71 advantage with 6:28 remaining. That was more than enough of a cushion to pull away, even though the Wizards did cut the lead to five with 1:41 left.

HOT: Allen played one of his best games in quite some time and knocked down seven of his 10 shots.

NOT: Wall was 3-for-12, Webster was 4-for-13 and Jordan Crawford missed four of his five shots.

QUOTABLE II: "We're as good as our big men play."
-- Sixers coach Doug Collins

FANTASY SPOTLIGHT: Holiday had 21 points, six assists, four steals and three rebounds while Hawes had 12 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and four blocked shots. Okafor was terrific for the Wizards with 15 points, 17 rebounds, two assists and two blocked shots.

INSIDE THE ARENA: It was quiet for most of the night inside the arena. Even when the Sixers pulled away down the stretch, there was never much of a buzz from the crowd of 15,101.

QUOTABLE III: "It just boils down to turnovers. I thought that was the difference in the game."
-- Wizards coach Randy Wittman

GOOD MOVE: Hawes wasn't shooting the ball particularly well but Collins kept him in the game. The move paid off because Hawes played one of his best all-around games of the season. And he hit a huge 3-pointer in the fourth quarter to help seal the victory.

BAD MOVE: The Wizards didn't run enough offense through Wall, who took 12 shots. He could have been much more involved in the offense earlier in the game and not just when they were desperate to make a late run.

ROOKIE WATCH: Wizards starting guard Bradley Beal was inactive with a sore right wrist. For the Sixers, forward Arnett Moultrie was scoreless in a brief 21-second stint.

NOTABLE: Sixers guard Jason Richardson missed his fifth consecutive game with left knee synovitis. Nick Young started once again in his place. Collins said that Richardson left the team to fly to Colorado for a second opinion on his knee. ... The Wizards played without Beal because of a sore right wrist. Beal visited a hand specialist in New York on Tuesday and is listed as day-to-day. ... Sixers guard Damien Wilkins was not with the team for personal reasons. ... The Sixers improved to 8-1 when holding the opponent below 90 points. ... Holiday has scored 20 or more points in five of the past eight games and 17 times this season. Over the past eight games, Holiday is averaging 23.8 points on 49.4 percent shooting. ... Allen was point shy of tying his career high. Over his past four games, he had scored a total of nine points on 4-for-12 shooting. It's just the second time Allen has reached double-digits over the past 12 games. ... The Wizards had 22 assists but turned the ball over 19 times. ... Washington was 7-for-22 from beyond the arc. ... The Sixers have registered 25 or more assists in seven of the past eight games after doing so eight times in the first 37 games. They are averaging 25.8 assists per game over the past eight games.

NEXT: For the Wizards, Friday @ Memphis, Saturday @ San Antonio, Monday vs. L.A. Clippers. For the Sixers, Friday vs. Sacramento, Monday vs. Orlando, Wednesday vs. Indiana.

• Wizards: Martin
• 76ers: Bynum

• Wizards: --
• 76ers: --

• Lead Changes: 6
• Times Tied: 2

• Arena: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA
• Officials: #48 Scott Foster, #30 John Goble, #29 Mark Lindsay
• Attendance: 15101
• Duration: 2:04