76ers beat Wizards for second straight night

WASHINGTON (AP) - January 14, 2012

Thaddeus Young tied his season high with 18 points and Jrue Holiday scored 13 for the 76ers, who have won eight of their last nine games.

Washington's JaVale McGee scored a season-high 23 points and tied his career high with 18 rebounds. McGee made his first eight shots from the floor and finished 11 of 13. Nick Young also scored a season-high 27 points.

John Wall narrowly missed a triple-double. He scored 19 points with a season-high nine rebounds and tied his season high with nine assists, but also had a season-worst eight turnovers, seven in the first half.

It was the 76ers' second win in two nights over the Wizards, following a 120-89 victory Friday night in Philadelphia.

Philadelphia displayed the type of teamwork that has been sorely lacking for the Wizards, who have the league's worst record. The 76ers got 46 points off the bench, compared to 15 for the Wizards.

All nine Philadelphia wins this season have been by at least eight points, with six of them by 20 points or more. Philadelphia fell short in its bid to become the first team ever to win seven of its first 12 games by 20 points or more, according to STATS LLC.

The Wizards looked like they were out for some revenge when the game started, leading 26-23 after the first quarter. However, poor decisions and sloppy play led to 13 Washington turnovers in the first half, and it caught up to the Wizards in the second quarter, as Philadelphia took advantage to steadily pull ahead, taking a 52-40 lead at halftime.

The 76ers steadily extended the lead in the second half, going up as many as 20 points. Philadelphia's offense wore down Washington's defense with strong ball movement and teamwork, while the 76ers' defense shut down the Wizards.

Philadelphia entered the game holding opponents to 39.8 percent shooting, best in the league. The Wizards were below that mark much of the game, but moved up in the final minutes, finishing at 43.2 percent (38 of 88). It was the ninth straight game the 76ers held their opponent to fewer than 100 points.

NOTES: Wizards F Andray Blatche (sprained right shoulder) was out for the third straight game. Washington coach Flip Saunders said he wasn't sure when Blatche would return. ... The Wizards scored 14 points in the second quarter. It was 20th time in Washington's 48 quarters this season they have scored fewer than 20 points. ... The 76ers have won four straight against Washington.

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