Harpring scored 17 of his season-high 21 points in the second half as he lifted the Philadelphia 76ers to their third straight victory, 100-86 over the Charlotte Hornets.
 Allen Iverson is thrilled the Sixers have won three straight games. Jesse Garrabrant/NBAE/Getty Images from Hornets-76ers: 56k | 300k |
After a lackluster first half, Harpring was everywhere in the second half. He took charges, hit 3-pointers, ran down loose balls and played hard, a trademark of Brown's 76ers.
"When I got traded, this is the team I felt I'd be playing with and it's fun," Harpring said. "It's fun to play to players with who know how to play the game and are unselfish. We're all doing different roles out there. I'm playing, but I find myself watching the action as well out there."
"He's given us a big lift," 76ers coach Larry Brown said. "He moves without the ball well and he makes hustle plays. ... He complements the people around him. He does the little things. He's been terrific."
Harpring made 8-of-12 shots and grabbed seven rebounds. He had 10 points in the third quarter, when Philadelphia turned a one-point deficit into a 75-66 lead.
"He was phenomenal," Brown said. "Think about all the matchups he's had since he's been with us. First night, he gets Kevin Garnett, then he gets Dirk Nowitzki and (Michael) Finley. He gets Jalen Rose and Michael Jordan. He has (Jamal) Mashburn here. Every night, he's playing against a super player and he done a phenomenal job."
"He led the charge in the third quarter," Hornets coach Paul Silas said. "They made some big hoops and got big rebounds. He's a quality player. He was one reason why we did not win the game."
Philadelphia's Allen Iverson scored 33 points in his first home game of the season. The 76ers (3-5) remained unbeaten since Iverson returned from elbow surgery Saturday.
Jamal Mashburn scored 21 points and Baron Davis added 20 for the Hornets, who have not won in Philadelphia since February 15, 2000. That includes two losses in the first round of the 2000 playoffs.
"We did not play very well tonight," Silas said. "When you don't play good, you're going to get your butt kicked. That's exactly what happened. Our defensive pressure wasn't good enough."
The Sixers began the second half with a 13-3 run. Harpring's three-point play capped the burst and opened a 60-52 lead with 8:05 to go in the third quarter. His 3-pointer widened the advantage to 71-62 with 2:43 left.
"Allen was getting double-teamed and I was getting some open shots," Harpring said. "I just crashed the boards a couple of times. It's satisfying because we got the win. Anytime you win, It's fun. These last three games, it's been fun."
Philadelphia led 75-66 entering the final period and Charlotte got no closer as it scored just one basket in the first eight minutes. A jumper by Mashburn with four minutes left ended the dry spell, but Iverson made a jumper and Harpring got loose for a dunk and a 95-82 lead with 1:21 to play.
"It was great," Iverson said. "We need different guys to step up night in and night out so we don't have to depend on one or two guys. Some night, I'm not going to be able to score like I want to. Some nights, Dikembe (Mutombo) is not going to have the defensive game that he wants to. But, as long as we have a collective effort, we'll be all right in any contest we're in."
Iverson made 10-of-26 shots and 12-of-13 free throws in his best game since his return. The reigning MVP also had seven assists and three steals.
Derrick Coleman and Speedy Claxton scored 10 points each for the Sixers, who played without injured guard Aaron McKie (sprained ankle) and shot 43 percent (33-of-76).
Coleman was facing the Hornets for the first time since they traded him back to the 76ers prior to the start of the season. He made 4-of-13 shots and pulled down eight boards.
Despite some travel problems that got them into Philadelphia early Wednesday morning, the Sixers posted a season high in points.
"Are (we) a scoring machine or what?" Brown said. "Randy (assistant coach Randy Ayers) asked me if we gave out chalupas for scoring 100 points. I'm thrilled about my team. To have a road trip like we had, then to get on a plane last night, then get off, go back to the hotel, then get up this morning, and play like this, I told them that is what this team is about."
David Wesley and Jamaal Magloire scored 10 points apiece for the Hornets, who shot 42 percent (30-of-72) and were outscored, 31-24, at the foul line.