Sixers end 3-game skid with win over Nets

By Bob Considine, for NBA.com
Posted Sunday January 31, 2010 10:00PM

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (NBA.com exclusive) -- The other side of winning ugly is losing uglier.

Such was the case in the 76ers' unsightly 83-79 win over the Nets on Sunday night at the IZOD Center.

Philadelphia snapped a three-game losing streak, despite connecting on just 3 of 19 shots in the fourth quarter. But with the Nets shooting 13 of 40 for the second half and fumbling a chance to tie the game with a late 3-point play that coach Kiki Vandeweghe ultimately regretted calling, those three 76er buckets in the final frame seemed to suffice.

"It was a matter of we missed easy shots," Vandeweghe said. "We had plenty of shots and we worked hard to get them - but we just missed them."

But the shot the Nets really needed - trailing 80-77 with less than 10 seconds remaining - resulted in an uncomfortable air ball that spoiled a quality 18-point, eight-rebound performance by Jarvis Hayes.

Vandeweghe said he called for a multiple-flare play in the half-court that was better utilized in the full court. When the 76ers switched off their defenders, Hayes found himself as the only 3-point option surrounded by Andre Iguodala. From the right elbow, he hoisted a shot that didn't touch the rim.

"I'm going to take responsibility for that because we tried to run something that perhaps was a little tricky, that we weren't familiar with," Vandeweghe said. "They just switched everything and we didn't end up executing quite right."

Hayes said the chance of his shot going down was "slim and none," but he also said the play was not beyond the Nets' mental grasp.

"I wouldn't say it was confusing," he said. "I would say it was just a tough play to run at the time. That was more of a full-court play that we tried to execute in the half-court and they switched out on it and it just bogged down."

There were only 8.9 seconds left after the Nets' miss. 76ers forward Jason Smith made it a two-possession game, at 82-77, with a pair from the line.

Iguodala led the 76ers with 14 points, while Allen Iverson and Lou Williams finished with 11 points apiece. Philadelphia (16-31) only shot 36.5 percent for the game, but its defense made the points last.

"It would have been a tough loss," Iguodala said. "But tonight we got the win and we can move forward from here and try to get something going."

Brook Lopez led the Nets (4-42) with 18 points, nine rebounds and three blocks. He complained of a stomach bug before the game, but said his ailment was more of a "head case" after the loss.

The Nets had started this four-game home stand with optimism. All four opponents were sub-.500 teams and they got off on the right foot with a 103-87 win over the Clippers on Wednesday night. But Friday night brought about a tough 81-79 loss to the Wizards, who entered with a four-game losing streak.

"We've been playing well the last few games," Lopez said. "We just haven't been able to close out."

The Nets did lead by 10 in the first half and took a 48-46 edge into intermission, marking the third straight game they led at the midway point. But Philadelphia would take over in the third quarter, thanks mostly to a solid showing from Iguodala (seven points, three rebounds, an assist and a steal) and 6 of 20 shooting by New Jersey. The 76ers outscored the Nets, 13-6, in the final eight minutes of the third period to take a 69-60 lead into the fourth quarter.

Philadelphia led 76-69 with 4:15 left, with the Nets going a 3:31 span without a field goal.

A Hayes 12-footer, followed by a 3-pointer with 2:44 left, cut the Nets' deficit to 76-74. But Iguodala sank a 20-footer and Iverson scored a pair from the line to put Philadelphia back up 80-74 with 33 seconds remaining. On the Nets end following Hayes' trey was a 24-second violation and a couple of missed 3-point attempts. They cut it to 80-77 on a 3-pointer by Yi Jianlian with 23.4 seconds left, the last of his 15 points.

Nets point guard Devin Harris missed his fourth straight game with a sore right wrist. Vandeweghe has put no definitive timetable on his return, but Harris said he could be ready for Tuesday's home game against Detroit. If not, Harris said he would definitely be traveling for New Jersey's four-game road trip thereafter.

"The range is what I'm worried about," Harris said. "Today, I had better range on my jump shot. I've got above the foul line, like 18-20 feet without a lot of problems, so that's encouraging. We'll try to increase it tomorrow and see how it goes."

• 76ers: Brezec, Ivey
• Nets: Harris, Simmons

• 76ers: --
• Nets: --

• Lead Changes: 8
• Times Tied: 8

• Arena: IZOD Center, New Jersey, NJ
• Officials: #13 Monty McCutchen, #23 Jason Phillips, #50 Olandis Poole
• Attendance: 11576
• Duration: 2:13