Nailon scored a career-high 27 points and had a handful of clutch baskets as the Hornets held off the Philadelphia 76ers, 94-85, for their first win here in nearly two years.
In his second year, Nailon moved into the starting lineup 16 games ago. He replaced Mashburn, Charlotte's leading scorer last season who is expected to miss at least another month with an abdominal injury.
A burly 6-8 forward, Nailon made 12-of-19 shots. He stepped out on the floor and hit mid-range jumpers and also took advantage of mismatches in the low post.
 Lee Nailon stung the Sixers with an assortment of shots around the bucket. Jesse D. Garrabrant NBAE/Getty Images |
"Nailon killed us; he played great," Sixers coach Larry Brown said. "(Charlotte) had a low-post presence that we had to help a lot, which hurt us a little bit. As a result, we lose a game, a winnable game."
Nailon bounced back nicely from a poor effort against New York on Tuesday. So did his teammates, who fought off a pair of rallies by the 76ers and won at the First Union Center for the first time since February 15, 2000.
Baron Davis had 19 points and seven assists for the Hornets, who had all five starters score in double figures and led by as many as 19 points.
Allen Iverson scored 38 points for the 76ers, who had a two-game winning streak snapped. Philadelphia had won its previous five home meetings with Charlotte, including two in the 2000 playoffs and a 100-86 victory on November 14.
"When you give that type of effort and get back into the game, you are supposed to win," Iverson said.
The Hornets went to a zone in the second half and limited the Sixers to 15 points in the third quarter. Davis hit a 3-pointer and jumper to give Charlotte a 71-66 lead and Nailon had a layup and two jumpers to make it 77-68 entering the final period.
"It worked tonight," Hornets coach Paul Silas said. "Iverson was killing us in our man-to-man and we wanted to go zone and see how it worked. It worked effectively."
Nailon opened the fourth quarter with a steal and dunk to push the lead to double digits before Iverson scored eight points in a 10-0 surge that pulled the Sixers with 79-78 with 7:22 left.
Philadelphia still was within 86-83 with 4:28 remaining on a 3-pointer by Aaron McKie, who scored 17 points. Nailon made a baseline jumper with 3:25 left and the Sixers committed five turnovers over six possessions down the stretch.
Nailon, whose previous high of 26 points came at Portland on December 6, sealed it with a dunk for a three-point play with 47 seconds left.
"When I'm hitting shots like I was tonight, that just opens everything up for the other four guys on the floor," Nailon said. "I was hitting my shot tonight, and everybody else stepped up and hit their shots also."
"Lee is capable," Silas said. "He is still young. I love the kid because he is fearless. He possibly has the softest touch from eight to 10 feet that we have ever seen. He just has a knack of putting the ball in the hoop."
P.J. Brown had 15 points and 13 rebounds and Elden Campbell added 12 and 10 for the Hornets, who shot 45 percent (38-of-84) and held a 49-41 edge on the glass. Nailon swept nine boards.
"I'm trying to get to the glass as much I can, trying to get double-doubles," Nailon said. "It helps my team when I crash the boards and rebound. Tonight we won the rebounds."
Dikembe Mutombo and former Hornet Derrick Coleman grabbed 12 boards apiece for the Sixers, who shot 42 percent (31-of-74) and fell to 10-15. En route to the NBA Finals last season, they did not lose their 15th game until February 24 -- at Charlotte.
Nailon scored 12 points and the Sixers heard boos in the first quarter, when they allowed a season-high 38 points and repeatedly were beat up the court on defense.
"It's just confidence," Nailon said. "If the coach feels good about you, you feel good about yourself. Getting off to a good start has been a big key to my success."
A free throw by Jamaal Magloire gave Charlotte its largest lead at 46-27 with 9:08 left in the second period before Philadelphia rallied behind Iverson and McKie.
Iverson scored 24 points in the first half. His jumper opened the third quarter and tied it, 55-55.
"When you get down 19 points, you have to expend a lot of energy coming back," Larry Brown said. "The way we started was disappointing. When you play uphill, you have to play almost perfect."