By Mike Cranston
Associated Press
CHARLOTTE ó D.J. Augustin scored a career-high 31 points, including four free throws in the final 11 seconds, Gerald Henderson added three big baskets late, and the Charlotte Bobcats beat the Philadelphia 76ers 100-97 on Thursday night.
Avenging an overtime defeat to the 76ers four days earlier, the Bobcats won their second straight game the same night they found out forward Tyrus Thomas would be out up two months with a knee injury.
Thaddeus Young scored 15 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter for the Sixers, who rallied from an eight-point deficit to take the lead before Henderson hit three consecutive jumpers.
Andre Iguodala added 19 points, but missed a free throw and a jumper in the final minute in Philadelphiaís second straight loss.
After Augustinís 25-point first half, the Bobcats turned to an unlikely offensive weapon to thwart the Sixersí comeback.
Henderson, a bit player under former coach Larry Brown, has become part of the rotation but hardly known for his shooting until it mattered against the Sixers. He hit three consecutive jumpers on the same curl play from the right wing in the final 1:40. The last came with 26 seconds left to put Charlotte ahead 96-93.
Iguodala missed a fadeaway on the next possession before Augustin put it away at the foul line.
Nazr Mohammed added 15 points and seven rebounds as Charlotte overcame bad shooting nights by Stephen Jackson and Gerald Wallace on a night of jolting injury news.
After Thomas complained of a swollen left knee following the morning shootaround, an MRI taken during the game revealed a torn meniscus that will require surgery.
Thomas, averaging 11.1 points and 5.8 rebounds, is expected to miss up to eight weeks in a big blow to Charlotteís depth in the frontcourt.
Still, the Bobcats were able to get their first win in three tries this season against Philadelphia, a team theyíre contending with for one of the final two playoff spots in the Eastern Conference.
The Bobcats led 84-76 on Shaun Livingstonís two free throws with 8:31 left before the Sixers slowly got closer. With Charlotte struggling to score, Philadelphia took an 89-88 lead with 3:25 left after consecutive tip-ins by Young.
The lead changed hands twice before Henderson got hot. He also caught a break when Iguodala hit only two of three free throws when he fouled him shooting a 3-pointer in the final minute to preserve Charlotteís lead.
In the beginning, nobody could keep up with Augustin.
After hitting his first three 3-pointers, he started driving, and it didnít matter if Jrue Holiday, Louis Williams or Evan Turner tried to guard him.
Augustin hit 10 of 11 shots in the first half, including a steal and ensuing three-point play over Williams to put Charlotte ahead 56-50 at halftime.
After Augustin hit a fadeaway to start the third quarter, he didnít hit another field goal until icing the game at the line.
It was another difficult loss for the Sixers a night after a heartbreaking and improbable defeat in Orlando in which Philadelphia allowed a four-point play at the end of regulation to tie it and another in overtime.
NOTES: With DeSagana Diop (Achillesí tendon) already lost for the season, the Bobcats are left with 13 healthy players while Thomas is sidelined. … Ex-Sixers forward and Charlotte native Bobby Jones attended the game. … Sixers F Andres Nocioni (broken finger) missed his third straight game. … Bobcats coach Paul Silas said theyíre still running most of Brownís plays. ěThey work. The players know them,î Silas said. ěWe donít have to have them learn a new offense at this point.î
The Associated Press
01/20/11 21:55