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The Sports Network
(Sports Network) - The Charlotte Bobcats try to avoid a 15th straight loss
this evening when they welcome the Philadelphia 76ers to Time Warner Cable
Arena.
Charlotte established a new club record for futility on Saturday, as it
dropped a 111-86 decision to the Los Angeles Clippers.
Kemba Walker continued his impressive rookie campaign, pacing Charlotte with
19 points. Corey Maggette, making his first start since a hamstring strain
shelved him in early January, added 12 and six rebounds and Tyrus Thomas had
11 points off the bench for the Bobcats, who haven't won since beating Golden
State on January 14.
"In the fourth quarter I thought we picked it up and played a little bit
better," Bobcats coach Paul Silas said. "But that's about it. We did not shoot
the ball well. We did not defend well. When you start games, have open looks
and cannot make shots, it's a real problem."
Things have been really ugly lately, as the Bobcats have been outscored by an
average of 24.9 points over their last six games.
"We're just not playing hard as a group," said Maggette. "We're just not doing
the right things right. Ultimately we need to make shots. We're shooting like
32 percent as a group and thats not going to cut it, especially against a
good team."
The Sixers, meanwhile, snapped a two-game slide on Saturday, as Jrue Holiday
led a balanced Philadelphia attack with 20 points in a 99-84 victory over the
Cleveland Cavaliers.
Lou Williams added 19 points, Thaddeus Young had 16, Elton Brand dropped in
11, and Jodie Meeks and Nikola Vucevic each contributed 10, helping the Sixers
win for the seventh time in their last 10 tries.
"It was a big bounce-back game for us. We had to have it," said Brand. "It was
as much of a must-win as we've had this season. We lost two tough games in a
row, so we wanted to win this game."
A win tonight would make the Sixers the fourth team this season to reach 20
wins, a feat they didn't accomplish last season until game No. 45.
"Our goal was to get to 20 wins before we get to 10 losses," head coach Doug
Collins said. "That would be a hell of a start."
Philly beat the Bobcats back on January 27 and has won three of the last four
meetings. However, the home team in this series has won five straight and
eight of the last nine.
The Sports Network