Sixers bounce back with win over Hawks
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Elton Brand scored 13 of his season-high 25 points in the fourth quarter, and the Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Atlanta Hawks, 95-90, on Saturday.
Brand also pulled down 10 rebounds, dished out five assists and blocked three shots for Philadelphia, which swept the season series against Atlanta for the first time since the 2000-01 season. Andre Iguodala added 18 points, eight rebounds and four assists.
The Sixers, who lost the Atlantic Division lead following a loss to Washington on Friday, is a now a half-game behind the idle Celtics for first place.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Josh Smith led all scorers with 34 points for Atlanta, which has lost three of its last four games.
Brand netted seven points during a 12-3 Sixers for a 77-73 lead midway through the final frame.
Smith's pull-up jumper pulled the Hawks within three, and after Holiday's putback layup, Marvin Williams nailed a straightaway three to pull Atlanta within 88-86 with 1:47 left.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}But the Sixers used a 6-1 spurt to put the game away.
After Brand knocked down a jumper, Smith made 1-of-2 from the charity stripe. Turner nailed a jumper at the other end, making it 92-87 with 1:00 showing on the clock.
Following Williams' missed trey, Iguodala was called for traveling, but Joe Johnson was unable to hit his triple and Meeks made a pair from the line to seal the win with 10.2 seconds to go.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Philadelphia turned the ball over six times and the Hawks scored the last 10 points of the first quarter for a 23-17 lead.
The Sixers closed the opening half on a 9-2 spurt. Iguodala's turnaround jumper capped the flurry, giving Philadelphia a 43-41 advantage heading into the break.
Iguodala and Brand both netted 12 first-half points to pace the Sixers.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Johnson's jumper with 1.8 seconds remaining in the third gave the Hawks a 66-62 advantage heading into the fourth. Smith scored 13 points in the third frame.
Game Notes
After turning the ball over six times in the opening period, Philadelphia gave it away just five more times...Atlanta was 4-of-14 from beyond the arc while Philadelphia finished 6-of-12 on three-pointers...The Sixers outrebounded the Hawks 41-35.