Two games on home court, one game away from the Eastern Conference Semis. After an 89-82 victory Sunday afternoon at Wells Fargo Center, the Philadelphia 76ers find themselves one win away from advancing to round two. There is still a lot of work to be done, but the Sixers will be feeling pretty good heading back to Chicago for Game 5 on Tuesday.

After a relatively messy and ugly Game 3 in which the Sixers trailed for the majority of the contest, the hope was that the team would come back and play a more complete Game 4. They did, although this game was ugly as well. There is no question who the go-to guy was for the 76ers on this day though. Friday night, that may have been a tougher question to answer. Today, it was all about Spencer Hawes.

The 76ers’ center had 22 points and 8 rebounds, and was a pest for the Bulls to deal with for the second consecutive game. It was noted during the game that Hawes became the first 76ers center since Moses Malone in 1983 to register back-to-back 20-point efforts in the post-season.

Philadelphia coach Doug Collins preached after Game 3 that his goal is to hold the opposition to one point per shot. In Game 3, the 76ers succeeded. They did so again in Game 4, holding the Bulls to 82 points on 85 shots. The Philadelphia defense was stifling at times. Yes, this is a Chicago team without Derrick Rose, but it is a Chicago team that still has Carlos Boozer and Luol Deng to stop, amongst others. Without the services of Joakim Noah in this contest, however, the Bulls seemed out of sync from the start. The 76ers are certainly fortunate to not have to deal with Rose again, and potentially Noah as well. That said, this is still a dangerous Chicago team.

There are things the Sixers need to improve upon if they want to finish off Chicago in the Windy City on Tuesday night. The half-court offense seemed stagnant for most of the day, and the Sixers shot just five of 19 from beyond the three-point line. Lou Williams took many confusing shots, went one of five from beyond the arc, and two of ten overall. The Sixers will need Williams to adjust and take smarter shots in Game 5.

After a non-existent first half, Jrue Holiday also came alive for the second half and helped the Sixers to the seven-point win. He finished with 20 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists, albeit on 7-of-23 shooting. That said, Holiday was aggressive in the final moments, and got to the line late to help the Sixers seal the win. The free-throw shooting was also a key aspect for the Sixers‘ success down the stretch. After starting the day 11-of-19 from the line, the Sixers finished 11-of-12 from the charity stripe.

For the Bulls, Boozer was an animal today. Taj Gibson was as well. Boozer had 23 points and 11 rebounds, took 24 shots, and has become the best offensive weapon for the Bulls. Gibson came off the bench to provide a spark on the offensive end in particular, chipping in with 14 points. He also had 10 rebounds. The Sixers still need to do a better job on the glass, as they were out-rebounded by the Bulls by a slim 48-46 margin. There were still many second-chance opportunities that Collins will want to cut down upon.

As a side note, the officiating crew of Dan Crawford, Dick Bavetta, and Marc Davis was clearly sub-par from the start of the day. Numerous fouls went un-called. Many fouls were called that were not fouls, bottom line. At times it appeared they were watching a different game. It had nothing to do with the Sixers or the Bulls, they were bad for both sides.

That said, the Sixers came out with the Game 4 win, two huge victories at home, and are now one win away from heading to round two, where they would face either the Boston Celtics or Atlanta Hawks. Should the Sixers finish off Chicago on Tuesday, it would be their first playoff series victory since 2003. Yes, it’s been that long. Yes, the time has come to put an end to that streak. Tuesday night, the Sixers hope to make the Windy City their city.

Sources: NBA.com, ESPN on ABC

Victor Filoromo is a born and bred Philadelphia sports fan, and has been through the best and worst of Philadelphia sports. He is a regular contributor to the Yahoo! Contributor Network ‘s NHL, MLB, and NBA coverage.

AUBURN HILLS (AP) - Ben Gordon came into the Detroit Pistons’ season finale with one goal in mind: He wanted to help his teammates send Ben Wallace off in style.

Gordon did that and more, hitting a franchise-record seven 3-pointers in the second quarter and finished with 26 points as the Pistons routed the short-handed Philadelphia 76ers 108-86 Thursday night.

“We wanted to go out there and honor Body, just in case this is his last game,” Gordon said. “We were extra inspired and we went out there and hit our shots. It’s going to be tough without him, because he is the epitome of the consummate professional.”

The night was filled with tributes to Wallace, who announced his retirement earlier in the season.

“Ben Wallace has had an incredible career,” Philadelphia coach Doug Collins said. “To be undrafted, but to come through with the career he’s had, including bringing Detroit a championship, that’s an amazing testimony to his work ethic. If this was his last game, it was an honor to be a part of it.”

Wallace, who set an NBA record for games by an undrafted player, finished with seven points and a season-high 12 rebounds. He left the game late in the third quarter, but checked back in for the final 90 seconds as the crowd chanted “We Want Ben!”

“That was a crazy moment,” he said, fighting back emotions. “Even in my heyday, it took a couple minutes for me to get warmed up, but the fans here have always supported me, and if they wanted me in the game, I was going into the game.”

The four-time Defensive Player of the Year, though, left a crack in the door for a 17th season.

“Do I think it is time to retire? Yes, I do,” he said. “But it is harder to walk away when so many people in the game are asking you to come back. I’m going to take some time and think about it.”

Pistons coach Lawrence Frank has made it clear that he’s not going to try to influence Wallace’s decision, but he’d be happy to have him back in the fall.

“It hasn’t just been an honor to coach him, it has been an honor to watch him every day,” Frank said. “This is a man who was undrafted, originally projected as a 2-guard and made himself into one of the great defensive post players of all time. If this is the end, I’m glad he went out the way he did. He’s a special player.”

Philadelphia entered the game with a mathematical chance at the Eastern Conference’s seventh seed, but didn’t make much of an effort. Elton Brand, Andre Iguodala, Thaddeus Young and Lou Williams all sat out the game in order to rest for Saturday’s postseason opener against Chicago.

“We’re going to be playing a very, very tough team in Chicago,” Collins said. “They are one of the best defensive teams in the NBA, and Derrick Rose, when healthy, is an incredible point guard.”

Spencer Hawes led the 76ers with 16, while Jodie Meeks had 15.

“Tonight was about trying to get the guys who were playing into a comfort zone and to tune some things up,” Hawes said. “Coach has done a good job of managing our players all season, and we trusted him with his decisions tonight.”

The Pistons already held a comfortable 26-15 lead after the first quarter, but blew the game open in the second. Detroit tied an NBA record with 11 3-pointers in the quarter, including a franchise-record seven from Gordon, and led 65-43 at the intermission.

Gordon hit another long jumper at the end of the third period – his first 2-point shot of the game – to give the Pistons a 86-66 advantage heading into the final 12 minutes.

“I’m proud of our guys for the way they played tonight, and I’m proud that we played .500 ball after a 4-20 start,” Franks said. “A lot of times, these last games turn into something like And-1 ball, but we went out and did our jobs.”

NOTES: Wallace finished with 529 double-rebound games. He is the Pistons’ career blocks leader, second in steals and third in rebounds. … All of the Pistons players wore Wallace’s trademark blue headband. … Brand, Iguodala and Young arrived at the arena just before game time. They didn’t make the trip to Milwaukee for Wednesday’s game, but joined the team in Detroit. Philadelphia coach Doug Collins said before the game it was too risky leaving the trio at home, since the 76ers didn’t know if they would open the playoffs in Chicago or Miami.

© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) — Ben Gordon came into the Detroit Pistons’ season finale with one goal in mind: He wanted to help his teammates send Ben Wallace off in style.

Gordon did that and more, hitting a franchise-record seven 3-pointers in the second quarter and finished with 26 points as the Pistons routed the short-handed Philadelphia 76ers 108-86 Thursday night.

“We wanted to go out there and honor Body, just in case this is his last game,” Gordon said. “We were extra inspired and we went out there and hit our shots. It’s going to be tough without him, because he is the epitome of the consummate professional.”

The night was filled with tributes to Wallace, who announced his retirement earlier in the season.

“Ben Wallace has had an incredible career,” Philadelphia coach Doug Collins said. “To be undrafted, but to come through with the career he’s had, including bringing Detroit a championship, that’s an amazing testimony to his work ethic. If this was his last game, it was an honor to be a part of it.”

Wallace, who set an NBA record for games by an undrafted player, finished with seven points and a season-high 12 rebounds. He left the game late in the third quarter, but checked back in for the final 90 seconds as the crowd chanted “We Want Ben!”

“That was a crazy moment,” he said, fighting back emotions. “Even in my heyday, it took a couple minutes for me to get warmed up, but the fans here have always supported me, and if they wanted me in the game, I was going into the game.”

The four-time Defensive Player of the Year, though, left a crack in the door for a 17th season.

“Do I think it is time to retire? Yes, I do,” he said. “But it is harder to walk away when so many people in the game are asking you to come back. I’m going to take some time and think about it.”

Pistons coach Lawrence Frank has made it clear that he’s not going to try to influence Wallace’s decision, but he’d be happy to have him back in the fall.

“It hasn’t just been an honor to coach him, it has been an honor to watch him every day,” Frank said. “This is a man who was undrafted, originally projected as a 2-guard and made himself into one of the great defensive post players of all time. If this is the end, I’m glad he went out the way he did. He’s a special player.”

Philadelphia entered the game with a mathematical chance at the Eastern Conference’s seventh seed, but didn’t make much of an effort. Elton Brand, Andre Iguodala, Thaddeus Young and Lou Williams all sat out the game in order to rest for Saturday’s postseason opener against Chicago.

“We’re going to be playing a very, very tough team in Chicago,” Collins said. “They are one of the best defensive teams in the NBA, and Derrick Rose, when healthy, is an incredible point guard.”

Spencer Hawes led the 76ers with 16, while Jodie Meeks had 15.

“Tonight was about trying to get the guys who were playing into a comfort zone and to tune some things up,” Hawes said. “Coach has done a good job of managing our players all season, and we trusted him with his decisions tonight.”

The Pistons already held a comfortable 26-15 lead after the first quarter, but blew the game open in the second. Detroit tied an NBA record with 11 3-pointers in the quarter, including a franchise-record seven from Gordon, and led 65-43 at the intermission.

Gordon hit another long jumper at the end of the third period — his first 2-point shot of the game — to give the Pistons a 86-66 advantage heading into the final 12 minutes.

“I’m proud of our guys for the way they played tonight, and I’m proud that we played .500 ball after a 4-20 start,” Franks said. “A lot of times, these last games turn into something like And-1 ball, but we went out and did our jobs.”

NOTES: Wallace finished with 529 double-rebound games. He is the Pistons’ career blocks leader, second in steals and third in rebounds. … All of the Pistons players wore Wallace’s trademark blue headband. … Brand, Iguodala and Young arrived at the arena just before game time. They didn’t make the trip to Milwaukee for Wednesday’s game, but joined the team in Detroit. Philadelphia coach Doug Collins said before the game it was too risky leaving the trio at home, since the 76ers didn’t know if they would open the playoffs in Chicago or Miami.

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — While the playoff-bound Philadelphia 76ers rested a handful of their regulars, the Detroit Pistons‘ season finale was a tale of two Bens. Reserve guard Ben Gordon poured in 26 points, including eight 3-pointers, as the Pistons cruised to a 108-86 victory over the 76ers at The Palace on Thursday night. Center Ben Wallace, playing perhaps the final game of his career, added seven points and 12 rebounds. “We just wanted to come out and honor Body (Wallace),” said Gordon, who made seven 3-pointers in the second quarter as the Pistons tied an NBA record with 11 in the quarter. “This might be his last game, and we all felt inspired tonight. My teammates did a good job of finding me, especially in that second quarter. I was able to make a lot of shots. It was a lot of fun.” The loss ensures the 76ers, who entered with a four-game winning streak, will be the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Philadelphia will play a best-of-seven series against top-seeded Chicago, beginning Saturday. “We know it’s going to be a tough series,” said center Spencer Hawes, who led the Sixers with 16 points and added seven rebounds. “They’ve been arguably the best team in the league all year long. We know we have a big challenge ahead of us, but we look forward to it.” The Sixers led the Atlantic Division a majority of the season but faltered after a 20-9 start, finishing 35-31. Coach Doug Collins believes his team learned from adversity. “I feel we’re a better team now than we were when we were 20-9,” he said. “Navigating through the ups and downs of the season, the highs and lows, the injuries, the five-game losing streak, all the stuff we had to go through, I think we are better for it on the other side. I was really pleased the way our guys ended the year.” Guard Rodney Stuckey added 13 points for the Pistons, while forward Charlie Villanueva chipped in 11. Detroit wound up 25-41, though it had a .500 record after a 4-20 start. The Pistons took over midway through the first quarter and led by as much as 28 while preventing Philadelphia from sweeping the four-game season series. Villanueva made three 3-pointers during the record-tying flurry. Cleveland made 11 3-pointers in a quarter against the Los Angeles Clippers on Jan. 31, 2010, and Milwaukee also had 11 3-pointers in a quarter against Phoenix on March 28, 2006. With its playoff opener just two days away, Philadelphia sat three starters — forwards Andre Iguodala and Elton Brand and guard Jrue Holiday — and its top two reserves, leading scorer Louis Williams and third-leading scorer Thaddeus Young. The Sixers’ revamped lineup included second-year forward Craig Brackins, who made his first career start. Wallace, a 16-year veteran and four-time Defensive Player of the Year, made his first start since Jan. 31. In honor of the team’s elder statesman, every Pistons player wore a blue headband like the one Wallace typically wears. During the first television timeout, highlights of Wallace’s career were shown on the scoreboard, and he received a standing ovation from fans and players on both teams. “It’s one of those things I’ve got to think about a little bit,” Wallace, 37, said of his retirement plans. “It’s tough to walk away from the game when you’ve got so many people who keep asking you to come back. Do I think it’s time for me to retire? Yeah. But people are asking me to come back, so obviously they see something in me that I really don’t see in myself right now. But we all feel good to be wanted.” NOTES: Iguodala, Brand and Young did not travel with the team to Milwaukee Wednesday but rejoined their teammates Thursday night, so they could fly together to their playoff destination. … The Sixers lost to Miami in the opening round of the Eastern Conference playoffs last season, 4-1. … The Pistons finished below .500 for the fourth consecutive season after making the Eastern Conference finals six consecutive years. “I think we better make the playoffs,” owner Tom Gores said of his goal for next season…. Greg Monroe is the fifth Detroit player since the 1994-95 season to have at least 1,000 points and 600 rebounds, joining Grant Hill, Otis Thorpe, Rasheed Wallace and the late Bison Dele. He had eight points and seven rebounds Thursday.

MILWAUKEE — What only a week ago was supposed to be a critical game between the Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night was instead a rather meaningless one. With the 76ers having already nudged out the Bucks for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, neither team had much at stake in the Bradley Center. But despite using patched-up starting lineups, both teams played a surprisingly competitive and entertaining game. After trailing by five points at halftime, the 76ers rallied in the second half for an 90-85 victory before a sparse crowd in the Bradley Center. 76ers coach Doug Collins used the occasion to rest several of his key players before the start of the playoffs. But Collins still had the services of guards Evan Turner and Jodie Meeks and they nicely picked up the scoring slack. Turner and Meeks finished with 29 and 27 points, respectively. Turner scored a team-leading 15 points in the first half to keep the 76ers within striking distance of the Bucks at 50-45. Turner also hit a tough, clutch jumper to give the 76ers an 86-81 lead with 3:10 left. Meeks, who began his pro career with the Bucks, scored 13 points in the third quarter when the 76ers outscored the Bucks 26-13 to take a 71-63 lead heading into the final period. Meeks also came up big in the fourth quarter. He connected on a key 3-pointer with 8:29 remaining in the game, giving the 76ers a 76-60 lead. Meeks also made a pair of free throws with 6:57 to go in the game. The Bucks, who are headed to the NBA Lottery for the third time in the last four seasons, also used a patched-up starting lineup that had only one regular starter in it: point guard Brandon Jennings. Seldom-used rookies Tobias Harris and Jon Leuer got rare starting calls and responded admirably. The 19-year-old Harris — the second-youngest player in the NBA — flashed signs of his potential throughout the game, especially in the first half. That’s when the 6-foot-9 Harris scored a team-leading 11 of his 15 points. Harris also grabbed a team-high six rebounds in the first half. Leuer, a second-round pick, finished with eight points and six rebounds in 21 minutes. Besides Harris and Leuer, the Bucks got a team-high 19 points from Jennings. Reserves Mike Dunleavy and Larry Sanders contributed 12 points apiece. The Bucks got a strong showing out of center Ekpe Udoh in the first half when he scored eight points. But Udoh experienced soreness in his right knee and only played a minute in the second half. While Jennings was the only regular starter on the court at tip-off for the Bucks, the 76ers were without two of their regular starters, forwards Elton Brand and Andre Iguodala. The “B” teams still acquitted themselves well early. The game was tied at 22-22 before the Bucks created some separation by moving to 29-24 lead at the end of the first quarter. Evan Turner carried the scoring load for 76ers in the opening period with 10 points. Center Ekpe Udoh had eight points for the Bucks in the first quarter. The Bucks continued to expand on their lead in the second quarter. Dunleavy’s jumper gave the Bucks a 39-29 advantage with 8:02 before halftime. The Bucks went to the locker room in front, 50-45. Harris totaled 11 points in the first half, with Dunleavy contributing 10. Turner was the only 76ers to score in double figures by halftime. He totaled 15 points. NOTES: Three of the 76ers’ top players — Brand, Iguodala and Thaddeus Young — didn’t accompany the team to Milwaukee in order to rest up for the playoffs. Lou Williams, the 76ers’ leading scorer and Sixth Man of the Year candidate, was with the team but didn’t play. … Young has been shooting the ball exceptionally well lately, having connected on 31-of-46 field goals in the last five games — a white-hot 67 percent. … The Bucks started two rookies, Harris and Leuer. … The Bucks finished the season with just two sellouts at the Bradley Center and entered Wednesday’s home game with an average attendance of 14,757, the lowest in franchise history. … Bucks center Larry Sanders returned to action after serving a two-game suspension for his involvement in an altercation during last Thursday’s game in Indianapolis. … Jennings is the only Buck to have played in all 65 games this season. … While the dates, times and sites of the playoffs have yet to be determined, 76ers coach Doug Collins said he expects his team to open the playoffs Saturday afternoon against the Bulls in Chicago. … Collins on the truncated 66-game season: “It’s been a tough year, it really has.”

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Philadelphia 76ers were determined not to get caught up in a trap game.

With important games against divisional foes New York and Boston looming later this week, it would have been easy for the first-place 76ers to overlook the NBA-worst Charlotte Bobcats.

But that didn’t happen.

Jrue Holiday had 20 points and six assists as the 76ers defeated the Bobcats 105-80 on Monday night to sweep the three-game season series between the teams.

Holiday, coming off a career-high 30 points in Saturday’s night loss at Chicago, was 8-of-13 shooting from the field and made all four shots from the free-throw line.

The 76ers broke open a tight game at halftime behind a stingy third-quarter defense, outscoring the Bobcats 31-19 to pull away.

The Bobcats shot just 29 percent from the field in the second half against a 76ers team that came in with the NBA’s best defense, holding opponents to an average of 87.8 points per game and 41.8 percent shooting from the field.

“They put a little pressure on us defensively and we just couldn’t score in the second half,” Bobcats coach Paul Silas said.

Philadelphia coach Doug Collins said before the game the key to snapping the losing skid was to get a more balanced scoring attack from his players.

And he got it.

Thaddeus Young had 20 points and Louis Williams chipped in with 19 for the 76ers. Philadelphia also got a solid effort from Elton Brand, who scored eight of his 16 points in a pivotal third quarter to break open a two-point game at halftime.

“It was imperative, we had to have this game,” Brand said. “That is what coach’s message was at halftime. He said this doesn’t look like a game that’s very important to us. Let’s hustle and get on the boards and get on the loose balls and play the way we can play.”

Said Holiday: “That’s the way we win games is when the scoring is even across the board. We have to have that.”

The Bobcats shot an impressive 49 percent in the first half to stay close despite the absence of Corey Maggette, who sat out with a back injury.

However, things fell apart in the third quarter for the Bobcats — just as they’ve done so often this season — and they were held to 6-of-22 shooting, allowing the 76ers to seize momentum of the game.

The 76ers maintained a 1½-game lead over Boston, which beat Atlanta 79-76, and stretched their margin to 4½ games over New York in the Atlantic.

“You don’t want to look ahead on your schedule but when you lose three in a row, you start doing a lot of things out of character,” Williams said. “We’re serious about trying to win this division and now we have to play the number two and three teams this week so we felt like it was important to get this one tonight.”

The 76ers held a 51-31 edge on the boards, behind 11 rebounds from Spencer Hawes.

Hawes, whose playing time has been limited due to a strained Achilles tendon, said after the game this was the best he’s felt in a while.

He played 24 minutes in all and had his first double-double since Jan. 16.

“The first half, I was waiting a little bit and pressing,” said Hawes, who had 13 points. “I have to just get used to play under those (playing time) limitations.”

Said Collins: “I talked to Spencer about how he needed to get back to being on the boards. I thought he was drifting out and wasn’t playing with the toughness I needed him to play with.”

Gerald Henderson had 14 points for the Bobcats, who failed to win back-to-back games for the first time this season. The Bobcats (7-37) remain the only team in the league that hasn’t won 10 games.

“We are a young club and we have to learn,” Silas said. “Playing young guys as much as we have to play them they’re going to make mistakes and it’s very difficult when you’re playing a team like that, who has experienced players. It’s not easy. It usually takes two to three years to learn how to play this game. We just need that experience.”

Notes: Henderson is averaging 15 points per game over the last five games for the Bobcats. … Young has scored 20-plus points six times this season.

CBSSports.com wire reports
March 19, 2012

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Philadelphia 76ers were determined not to get caught up in a trap game.

With important games against divisional foes New York and Boston looming later this week, it would have been easy for the first-place 76ers to overlook the NBA-worst Charlotte Bobcats.

But that didn’t happen.

Jrue Holiday had 20 points and six assists as the 76ers defeated the Bobcats 105-80 on Monday night to sweep the three-game season series between the teams.

Holiday, coming off a career-high 30 points in Saturday’s night loss at Chicago, was 8-of-13 shooting from the field and made all four shots from the free-throw line.

The 76ers broke open a tight game at halftime behind a stingy third-quarter defense, outscoring the Bobcats 31-19 to pull away.

The Bobcats shot just 29 percent from the field in the second half against a 76ers team that came in with the NBA’s best defense, holding opponents to an average of 87.8 points per game and 41.8 percent shooting from the field.

“They put a little pressure on us defensively and we just couldn’t score in the second half,” Bobcats coach Paul Silas said.

Philadelphia coach Doug Collins said before the game the key to snapping the losing skid was to get a more balanced scoring attack from his players.

And he got it.

Thaddeus Young had 20 points and Lou Williams chipped in with 19 for the 76ers. Philadelphia also got a solid effort from Elton Brand, who scored eight of his 16 points in a pivotal third quarter to break open a two-point game at halftime.

“It was imperative, we had to have this game,” Brand said. “That is what coach’s message was at halftime. He said this doesn’t look like a game that’s very important to us. Let’s hustle and get on the boards and get on the loose balls and play the way we can play.”

Said Holiday: “That’s the way we win games is when the scoring is even across the board. We have to have that.”

The Bobcats shot an impressive 49 percent in the first half to stay close despite the absence of Corey Maggette, who sat out with a back injury.

However, things fell apart in the third quarter for the Bobcats — just as they’ve done so often this season — and they were held to 6-of-22 shooting, allowing the 76ers to seize momentum of the game.

The 76ers maintained a 1½-game lead over Boston, which beat Atlanta 79-76, and stretched their margin to 4½ games over New York in the Atlantic.

“You don’t want to look ahead on your schedule but when you lose three in a row, you start doing a lot of things out of character,” Williams said. “We’re serious about trying to win this division and now we have to play the number two and three teams this week so we felt like it was important to get this one tonight.”

The 76ers held a 51-31 edge on the boards, behind 11 rebounds from Spencer Hawes.

Hawes, whose playing time has been limited due to a strained Achilles tendon, said after the game this was the best he’s felt in a while.

He played 24 minutes in all and had his first double-double since Jan. 16.

“The first half, I was waiting a little bit and pressing,” said Hawes, who had 13 points. “I have to just get used to play under those [playing time] limitations.”

Said Collins: “I talked to Spencer about how he needed to get back to being on the boards. I thought he was drifting out and wasn’t playing with the toughness I needed him to play with.”

Gerald Henderson had 14 points for the Bobcats, who failed to win back-to-back games for the first time this season. The Bobcats (7-37) remain the only team in the league that hasn’t won 10 games.

“We are a young club and we have to learn,” Silas said. “Playing young guys as much as we have to play them they’re going to make mistakes and it’s very difficult when you’re playing a team like that, who has experienced players. It’s not easy. It usually takes two to three years to learn how to play this game. We just need that experience.”

Notes

• Henderson is averaging 15 points per game over the last five games for the Bobcats.
• Young has scored 20-plus points six times this season.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Jrue Holiday had 20 points and six assists as the first-place Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Charlotte Bobcats, 105-80, on Monday night to snap a three-game losing streak and sweep the three-game season series between the teams.

Holiday, coming off a career-high 30 points in Saturday’s night loss at Chicago, was 8-of-13 shooting from the field and made all four shots from the free-throw line.

Doug Collins said before the game the key to snapping the losing skid was to get a more balanced scoring attack from his players and he got just that.

Thaddeus Young also had 20 points and Louis Williams chipped in with 19 for the 76ers.

Philadelphia also got a solid effort from Elton Brand, who scored eight of his 16 points in a pivotal third quarter as the 76ers outscored the Bobcats 30-19 to break open a two-point game.

The 76ers outrebounded the Bobcats 51-31 behind 11 boards from Spencer Hawes.

Gerald Henderson had 14 points for the Bobcats, who failed to win back-to-back games for the first time this season.

The Bobcats shot 49 percent in the first half to stay close despite the absence of Corey Maggette, who sat out with a back injury.

However, things fell apart in the third quarter for the Bobcats — just as they’ve done so often this season — and they were held to 6-of-22 shooting, allowing the 76ers to seize momentum of the game.

The Bobcats seemed disinterested at times in the third quarter and the 76ers pushed the lead to 24 down the stretch and the outcome of the game was never in question in the second half.

The 76ers came in with the NBA’s best defense, holding opponents to an average of 87.8 points per game and 41.8 percent shooting from the field. The Bobcats finished the game shooting 39 percent from the field.

After an evenly played first half, the 76ers took a 46-44 lead into the locker room after Thaddeus Young tipped in a shot with 1 second left. Holiday and Young were big in the first half for the 76ers, combining for 24 points on 9-of-10 shooting.

The Bobcats (7-37) remain the only team in the league that hasn’t won 10 games this season.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) The Philadelphia 76ers were determined not to get caught up in a trap game.

With important games against divisional foes New York and Boston looming later this week, it would have been easy for the first-place 76ers to overlook the NBA-worst Charlotte Bobcats.

But that didn’t happen.

Jrue Holiday had 20 points and six assists as the 76ers defeated the Bobcats 105-80 on Monday night to sweep the three-game season series between the teams.

Holiday, coming off a career-high 30 points in Saturday’s night loss at Chicago, was 8-of-13 shooting from the field and made all four shots from the free-throw line.

The 76ers broke open a tight game at halftime behind a stingy third-quarter defense, outscoring the Bobcats 31-19 to pull away.

The Bobcats shot just 29 percent from the field in the second half against a 76ers team that came in with the NBA’s best defense, holding opponents to an average of 87.8 points per game and 41.8 percent shooting from the field.

”They put a little pressure on us defensively and we just couldn’t score in the second half,” Bobcats coach Paul Silas said.

Philadelphia coach Doug Collins said before the game the key to snapping the losing skid was to get a more balanced scoring attack from his players.

And he got it.

Thaddeus Young had 20 points and Louis Williams chipped in with 19 for the 76ers. Philadelphia also got a solid effort from Elton Brand, who scored eight of his 16 points in a pivotal third quarter to break open a two-point game at halftime.

”It was imperative, we had to have this game,” Brand said. ”That is what coach’s message was at halftime. He said this doesn’t look like a game that’s very important to us. Let’s hustle and get on the boards and get on the loose balls and play the way we can play.”

Said Holiday: ”That’s the way we win games is when the scoring is even across the board. We have to have that.”

The Bobcats shot an impressive 49 percent in the first half to stay close despite the absence of Corey Maggette, who sat out with a back injury.

However, things fell apart in the third quarter for the Bobcats – just as they’ve done so often this season – and they were held to 6-of-22 shooting, allowing the 76ers to seize momentum of the game.

The 76ers maintained a 1 1/2-game lead over Boston, which beat Atlanta 79-76, and stretched their margin to 4 1/2 games over New York in the Atlantic.

”You don’t want to look ahead on your schedule but when you lose three in a row, you start doing a lot of things out of character,” Williams said. ”We’re serious about trying to win this division and now we have to play the number two and three teams this week so we felt like it was important to get this one tonight.”

The 76ers held a 51-31 edge on the boards, behind 11 rebounds from Spencer Hawes.

Hawes, whose playing time has been limited due to a strained Achilles tendon, said after the game this was the best he’s felt in a while.

He played 24 minutes in all and had his first double-double since Jan. 16.

”The first half, I was waiting a little bit and pressing,” said Hawes, who had 13 points. ”I have to just get used to play under those (playing time) limitations.”

Said Collins: ”I talked to Spencer about how he needed to get back to being on the boards. I thought he was drifting out and wasn’t playing with the toughness I needed him to play with.”

Gerald Henderson had 14 points for the Bobcats, who failed to win back-to-back games for the first time this season. The Bobcats (7-37) remain the only team in the league that hasn’t won 10 games.

”We are a young club and we have to learn,” Silas said. ”Playing young guys as much as we have to play them they’re going to make mistakes and it’s very difficult when you’re playing a team like that, who has experienced players. It’s not easy. It usually takes two to three years to learn how to play this game. We just need that experience.”

Notes: Henderson is averaging 15 points per game over the last five games for the Bobcats. … Young has scored 20-plus points six times this season.

Playing without Derrick Rose hasn’t held back the Chicago Bulls.

C.J. Watson, starting for the injured MVP, scored 20 points and Joakim Noah added 13 points and 11 rebounds to lead the resilient Bulls to an 89-80 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday night.

The Bulls overcame an early 14-point deficit without Rose, who missed his third straight game with a strained groin. Rose has missed 13 games this season and the Bulls still have the best record in the NBA at 37-10. They are 9-4 without Rose.

“That was a tough team we just beat so it gives us a lot of confidence, we just need to keep it going. We are playing without our MVP so we just need to keep getting better, keep improving. It was a good bounce back game from yesterday,” Noah said.

The Bulls lost Friday night to Portland after beating the Heat without Rose on Wednesday.

Chicago has not dropped consecutive regular season games since Feb. 5-7, 2011, and back-to-back contests at the United Center since a five-game skid March 1-19, 2010.

“That’s our motto, not to lose two in a row. We’ve been sticking by that and we just need to keep it up,” Watson said.

Jrue Holiday led the 76ers with 30 points. Philadelphia dropped its third straight and has lost seven of nine on the road. Holiday got little help as Andre Iguodala was held to seven points and Elton Brand to seven.

Holiday attempted 27 shots, but he was the only offense the 76ers had going.

“I didn’t even know I took that many shots. I guess it felt like I had to. It was just the fight in me trying to keep us in it,” Holiday said.

Carlos Boozer made a pair of free throws to tie the game then Watson made a 3-pointer to give Chicago its first lead, 52-49, in the third quarter. Omer Asik had a tip-in as time expired at the end of the quarter to increase Chicago’s lead to 64-59.

“One of the things we struggle with is our halfcourt offense. They’re a very, very good defensive team. They got us ground down to a halfcourt game. And then I thought in the second half their size and rebounding became such a factor,” 76ers coach Doug Collins said.

Different players have been picking up the scoring slack with Rose out. On Saturday night, Watson kept the Bulls in the game. Watson just returned to the lineup after missing five games with a sprained left ankle.

“C.J. is a warrior. He is somebody who is still playing injured but we need him to play. For him to come back like that shows the sacrifice he is making for the team,” Noah said.

Kyle Korver made a jumper, and after Asik’s free throw, Korver made a 3 to increase the lead to 71-63. Things started to unravel for the 76ers as Spencer Hawes was called for a technical after an offensive foul and Evan Turner was also called for technical after he argued what he thought should’ve been a goaltending call.

Holiday’s basket got the Bulls to 79-75 with 3:30, but the Bulls answered with a 10-2 run led by Noah, who had eight points in the span.

The Bulls outrebounded the 76ers 53-39.

“It just shows the character of the team. We take losses personal. A lot of people have things to say at the end of the day, we take losing real bad and that shows great character,” Noah said.

The 76ers jumped out to an 11-0 lead. Holiday scored nine of Philadelphia’s first 13 points. The Bulls didn’t score in the first quarter until Boozer hit a jumper with 6:49 left. The Bulls couldn’t convert on its first seven shot attempts. Lou Williams’ layup gave the 76ers a 24-11 lead at the end of the first quarter.

“We’ve played some of our worst games when it’s come easy early,” Brand said.

Ronnie Brewer’s layup as time expired at the end of the second quarter got the Bulls to 44-38. Holiday scored 15 points in the first half for the 76ers. Watson and Gibson led the Bulls with eight apiece.