It would be great if the Philadelphia 76ers could play the Washington Wizards in every game. For the third time this season, the 76ers faced the Washington Wizards. For the third time this season, the 76ers won the game comfortably. The win moved the 76ers to 12-5 on the season and helped maintain their lead in the Atlantic Division. The win was that much more impressive considering that the 76ers were missing their top two big men. As a 76ers fan, I’m happy the team got the win. It was a great way to kick off an important stretch for the team.

The 76ers raced out of the gate and led 33-14 after the first quarter. The lead was 30 points at halftime. After that the 76ers could call off the dogs. They ended up coming out on top with a 103-83 win. The win was made possible from a nice combination of work from the starters and the bench. Jrue Holiday and Elton Brand led the 76ers with 17 points. Brand, playing with a stomach virus, also added nine rebounds to help make for the absence of Spencer Hawes and Nikola Vucevic. Jodie Meeks had 15 points while Andre Iguodala had seven points, seven rebounds, and 11 assists.

The bench was also stellar. Thaddeus Young and Lou Williams each had 14 points while LaVoy Allen had 10 points and made all five of his field goal attempts. As a team, the 76ers shot 52 percent from the floor. It was a great shooting night for the team when they really needed it. It was clear that the defense would suffer a little without the big men. The 76ers had to shoot the ball well and they did just that.

Overall, this was a big win for the 76ers. The Wizards are a terrible team but no one can be overlooked. Coming off of a tough loss to the Miami Heat and kicking off a huge home stand, the 76ers needed to make a statement in this game. They were able to do that. Now they should have momentum for the upcoming games.

* – Mark Paul is a Philadelphia resident and 76ers fan. Follow him on Twitter here.

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