Bobcats beat Sixers; Wallace scores 29

By: JournalNow Staff | THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: April 08, 2009

CHARLOTTE

Gerald Wallace had 29 points and the Charlotte Bobcats beat the Philadelphia 76ers 101-98 last night to snap a three-game skid.

Raymond Felton scored a career-high 32 points and the Bobcats recovered after blowing a 20-point lead to improve their faint playoff hopes.

Andre Iguodala and Willie Green missed tying 3-pointers in the closing seconds. Andre Miller had 23 points and Louis Williams scored 20 for Philadelphia, which is trying to better its playoff seeding to avoid a first-round matchup with Boston or Orlando.

Iguodala's fadeaway with 1:42 left put Philadelphia ahead 98-95. After Charlotte's Emeka Okafor hit two free throws, the Bobcats got a defensive stop, and then an offensive rebound after D.J. Augustin missed a 3-pointer.

After a timeout, Felton's runner was well short, and Wallace picked off the airball and banked in a layup for a 99-98 lead with 28 seconds left.

Iguodala missed a mid-range jumper, and Wallace hit two free throws at the other end. After Iguodala missed a 3, the Sixers got the ball back after a jump ball. But Green missed a 3 from the corner, allowing the Bobcats to finish their home schedule 23-18.

PHILADELPHIA -- Evans 0-3 0-4 0, Iguodala 8-19 1-3 19, Dalembert 2-5 0-0 4, Miller 8-13 7-7 23, Green 6-14 2-2 17, Ratliff 0-3 2-2 2, Williams 7-15 5-6 20, Ivey 0-2 2-2 2, Speights 3-6 2-2 8, Marshall 1-3 0-0 3. Totals 35-83 21-28 98.

CHARLOTTE -- Wallace 8-18 13-17 29, Diaw 7-14 1-1 17, Okafor 3-6 3-3 9, Felton 12-20 5-7 32, Radmanovic 1-4 0-0 3, Augustin 3-9 0-0 8, Diop 0-1 0-0 0, Jefferson 0-0 1-2 1, Martin 0-2 2-2 2, Howard 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 34-74 25-32 101.

Philadelphia 19 30 32 17 -- 98
Charlotte 28 35 16 22 -- 101

3-Point Goals--Phila. 7-21 (Green 3-6, Iguodala 2-8, Williams 1-1, Marshall 1-3, Evans 0-1, Ivey 0-2), Char. 8-26 (Felton 3-6, Diaw 2-6, Augustin 2-8, Radmanovic 1-3, Martin 0-1, Wallace 0-2). Rebounds--Phila.48 (Dalembert 9), Char. 54 (Okafor 12). Assists--Phila.18 (Miller 7), Char. 24 (Augustin, Diaw 6). Total Fouls--Phila. 24, Char. 18. A--16,499 (19,077).