76ers Top Nets for 20th Win in 27 Games

[April 02, 2008]  EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- Lou Williams hit three consecutive baskets in the final 3:47, and the surprising Philadelphia 76ers posted their 20th win in 27 games with a 108-99 victory over the fading New Jersey Nets on Tuesday night.

Andre Miller had 24 points, 11 assists and five rebounds, while Andre Iguodala added 17 points, 10 assists and six rebounds for Philadelphia, which used a late 9-2 spurt fueled by Williams to take command. Samuel Dalembert added 15 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks, and Williams finished with 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the field.

The 76ers (38-37) snapped a two-game losing streak and pulled within a half-game of idle Washington and Toronto in the three-way fight for playoff positions 5-7 in the Eastern Conference.

The Nets' third straight loss dropped them 3 1/2 games behind Atlanta for the final playoff spot in the conference. New Jersey (31-44) is down three games in the loss column with seven left in the regular season. The Nets are now 10th in the East, trailing Indiana by a half-game.

Vince Carter had 29 points to lead New Jersey, while Devin Harris added 22 and Richard Jefferson had 14, but just one in the second half.

Down by five entering the fourth quarter, the Nets cut it to 93-91 on Carter's 3-pointer from the left corner with 4:11 to go.

Williams then took over. He nailed a 3-pointer from the corner off Iguodala's feed on the 76ers' next possession for a 96-91 lead.

After Josh Boone scored on a rebound for New Jersey, Williams sandwiched a reverse layup and a jumper around a missed 3-pointer by New Jersey's Bostjan Nachbar for a 100-93 lead with 2:28 to play.

Iguodala stole the ball from Carter on the next possession and Dalembert scored inside for a 102-93 lead.

New Jersey never got close again as its magic number for missing the playoffs for the first time in seven years fell to five. That's any combination of Hawks' wins and Nets' losses.

Notes: The teams split the season series 2-2. ... The first half ended tied at 57 with both teams shooting 55 percent from the field. ... New Jersey did not attempt a free throw in the first half. The Sixers were 12-of-15 from the line. ..The Nets finished 10-of-13 from the line, taking their first free throw midway through the third quarter. The Sixers finished 24-of-29.

[Associated Press]

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