The 76ers’ remarkable 17-0 run in the fourth quarter pulled the Sixers out in front for the victory against the Washington Wizards on Tuesday night, 101-96. Thaddeus Young’s career-high 17 points and Andre Miller’s season-high 14 assists were exactly what the Sixers needed to edge the Wizards, now controlling the season series 2-1. The Sixers collected 62 points in the paint and beat the Wizards in transition 24-6. Rodney Carney scored eight points in the fourth quarter and 16 on the night, to contribute in the victory.

“Well, that was a great win for us,” said head coach Maurice Cheeks. “The way that we stayed in there, the way we hung in there after getting down 12 [points]. I was just proud of our guys, the way they hung in there even though we were down 12 points and it looked like we were in trouble. They just hung in there and we were able to come away with a win.”

In the first quarter, Miller set the bar for all point guards with seven assists. The Sixers shot 47.1% from the floor in the first quarter, thanks in part to their 14 fastbreak points, compared to Washington’s eight. Carney went coast-to-coast for the transition basket to give the Sixers a one-point advantage with 55 seconds left in the first quarter.

Miller controlled the scoring in the second quarter for the Sixers with eight points, while amassing three assists. He finished the first half with a double-double, which included 11 points and 10 assists. The Sixers’ balanced attack proved efficient as they hit 11 shots in the second quarter for 68.8%. Willie Green closed the deficit to six, 47-41, with his reverse layup on the baseline with 3:51 remaining in the half. Seconds later, Miller pushed the ball in transition and found Young for the basket to close the lead to 47-43.

As a team, the Sixers shot 57.6% from the field through two quarters and their defense allowed only four fastbreak points and 12 second chance points. At the half the Wizards led 56-49.

Iguodala’s fastbreak dunk from Green with 7:10 left in the third quarter, brought the Sixers to within 63-59. On the very next possession, Iguodala’s unselfish pass to Young for the layup closed Washington’s lead to only two. In his third consecutive start, Young took control of the third quarter scoring a team-high 10 points while pulling down three rebounds. Miller and Iguodala combined for seven assists and Samuel Dalembert and Green poured in eight points total.

Carney opened up the final quarter with a fastbreak slam to knot the game at 90 and then nearly a minute and a half later, Carney’s aggressive defense forced a Washington turnover, which he pushed down the open court for another slam, capping off a 6-0 Sixers’ run.

“I think there are certain games where he plays more minutes than others,” said coach Cheeks of Carney. “This time he stayed in the game down the stretch, because he was active. One thing I tell him is that he doesn’t have to dictate his game by making a shot and tonight was an example of that. He was in the open court, he used his hands to deflect the basketball and he got a lot of guys easier baskets and that’s how he has to play.”

Dalembert had a productive night with seven points, on 3-7 shooting from the field, while grabbing eight rebounds and blocking three shots. Lou Williams sparked the bench alongside Carney with 11 points, three rebounds, two assists and a steal.

The final four games for the Sixers before the All-Star break all take place in Philadelphia. Catch the Sixers in action on Thursday night when Dwayne Wade and the Miami Heat visit the Wachovia Center for a 7:00 PM tip-off on Comcast SportsNet.