Hornets Sting 76ers

Lee Nailon had a career-high 27 points as the Charlotte Hornets beat the Philadelphia 76ers 94-85 on Wednesday night to snap a two-game losing streak. Baron Davis added 19 points, P.J. Brown had 15 points and 13 rebounds, Elden Campbell had 12 points and 10 rebounds and David Wesley also had 12 points for the Hornets.

Allen Iverson led Philadelphia with 38 points on 13-of-30 shooting. Aaron McKie had 17 points and Derrick Coleman and Dikembe Mutombo each grabbed 12 rebounds for the 76ers, who had a two-game winning streak snapped and have lost eight of their last 10.

A jumper by Wesley as the shot clock buzzer sounded gave the Hornets a 90-84 lead with 1:09 left in the game. On the ensuing possession by Philadelphia, Campbell blocked a runner floater by Iverson, leading to layup by Nailon to put the game away.

After a fast-break dunk by Nailon gave Charlotte a 79-68 lead early in the fourth quarter, the 76ers scored 10 straight, including eight by Iverson to close to 79-78 with 7:21 left. The Hornets then scored the next five, including two on free throws after Mutombo and Iverson were whistled for technicals during the same play, to go ahead 84-78 with 6:15 remaining.

The Hornets broke open a 64-64 tie in the third quarter by scoring 13 of the last 17 points of the quarter, with Nailon making three baskets in the final minute as Charlotte took a 77-68 lead. The Sixers seemed confused by Charlotte's zone defense in the quarter, making just three baskets in the final seven minutes.

The first half consisted of two very different quarters. Charlotte outscored the Sixers 38-21 in the first quarter, thanks to 59 percent shooting (17-of-29) and a 16-6 rebounding advantage.

Philadelphia came back strong in the second quarter, rebounding from a 19-point deficit and scoring 26 of the last 35 points of the half to pull to 55-53 at halftime. Iverson had 13 points and was 4-of-7 from the field in the quarter.

Notes:
The Hornets' 38 first-quarter points were the most allowed by Philadelphia this season, while the 32 scored by the 76ers in the second were their most this season. ... The win snapped Charlotte's three-game losing streak in Philadelphia.

(Copyright 2001 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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Author: 6 - ABC, Action News