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 The Philadelphia forward hit a pull-up jumper in the lane as time
expired, rallying the 76ers to a 95-94 win over the Boston Celtics
on Wednesday.
"I just wanted to make sure we got the last shot," said Turner, who
finished with 16 points, six rebounds and eight assists. "Once we
got across the court, I had enough time to do what I needed to do."
Philadelphia, which ended a three-game losing streak, had the final
chance after Boston forward Kris Humphries missed a jumper with 12
seconds left and 76ers rookie guard Michael Carter-Williams got the
rebound, took it to midcourt and handed it off to Turner.
Turner had just blown a chance to tie it when he was fouled with 35
seconds remaining. He hit the first shot, but missed the second and
Boston was still up by a point in a game Philadelphia led by as much
as 14 early.
"I was still shocked I had missed the second free throw to tie up,"
Turner said. "We pulled through and we came back from giving up a
lead. But at the same time, we've got to finish off those free
throws and make it easy on us."
Philadelphia coach Brett Brown let his young players go on their own
for it at the end instead of calling for a play after
Carter-Williams, who had 10 points and seven assists, grabbed his
fifth rebound on Humphries' late miss.
"The random play is probably as good of an environment as you're
going to get often," Brown said. "We decided to go with it and not
call a time out and we were lucky it worked."
Center Spencer Hawes had 20 for Philadelphia, tying his career-high
with four 3-pointers. Forward Thaddeus Young also scored 15 and
guard Michael Carter-Williams had 10 points and seven assists for
the 76ers, who overcame woeful foul shooting to win it.
The Celtics were 23 of 30 from the line and out-rebounded the 76ers
59-40, but also faltered late from the foul line and could not hold
off Philadelphia's final surge and Turner at the buzzer.
"I wish we could have kept him from getting to where he went, but it
wasn't from effort and it was from desire and it wasn't from making
him make a tough shot. But he made it," Boston coach Brad Stevens
said. "Evan Turner has a history of doing that in these situations
and that's why I thought he'd shoot it."
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Jared Sullinger moved to center for the Celtics and finished with
24 points and 17 rebounds. Forward Jeff Green added 18 and Humphries
came off the bench for 13 points and nine rebounds for Boston, which
lost its fourth straight and sits alone in last place in the
Atlantic Division.
"I think we have a good set of guys in here and that keeps our
morale on a good level. We constantly come out and compete,"
Sullinger said.
Guard Jerryd Bayless missed a pair of free throws with Boston
leading 92-91 with 1:40 left and Young drew a foul while going for
an offensive rebound at the other end with 1:23 remaining. The
Philadelphia forward also missed both and Boston's lead remained at
one point before Carter-Williams went 1-for-2 from the line to tie
it at 92-all with 1:01 remaining.
Humphries tipped in a rebound to put Boston back up 94-92 with 42
seconds left.
Turner was fouled before getting off a short jumper with 35 seconds
left and made his first from the line, but missed the second with a
chance to tie it again. Boston got the rebound and Humphries had an
open look to extend the lead to three, but missed.
The 76ers led 74-71 entering the final period, but guard Chris
Johnson hit a 3-pointer for Boston to tie it 31 seconds into the
fourth and get the Celtics going on a 15-4 run. Green added a
3-pointer and Johnson hit again from beyond-the-arc to give Boston
an 84-78 lead with 9:20 left to play.
The Celtics held Philadelphia without a point from Carter-Williams'
layup with 11:10 left in the game until guard James Anderson hit a
3-pointer with 7:22 remaining to cut Boston's lead to 88-81.
Philadelphia trailed 26-23 after the first, then opened the second
quarter on a 10-2 run and led 53-47 at halftime.
NOTES: Still gradually working his way back after missing nearly a
year with a torn ACL, Boston PG Rajon Rondo did not play in the
second of back-to-back games. ... The Celtics said more than 1,400
season-ticket holders donated tickets to the game for members of the
military to attend. ... The Sixers and Celtics entered the game on
three-game losing streaks and in a virtual tie for last place in the
Atlantic Division. ... Philadelphia coach Brett Brown played across
town at Boston University. ... Philadelphia trailed 26-23 after the
first, then opened the second quarter on a 10-2 run.
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