76ers claim third consecutive victory
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Dario Saric came off the bench for 18 points and 11 rebounds and the Philadelphia 76ers won their third straight with a 105-99 victory over the reeling Charlotte Hornets on Monday night at the Spectrum Center.
The Sixers led by 12 points early and then, after giving up the lead briefly late in the third quarter, pulled away again in the first five minutes of the fourth quarter to lead by as many as 14.
Charlotte only got as close as five in the final minute.
The Sixers (21-34) were playing without centers Joel Embiid (knee) and Jahlil Okafor, who remained in Philadelphia while on the trading block.
Robert Covington added 17 points for the Sixers. T.J. McConnell scored 14 points, Nerlens Noel and Gerald Henderson 12 each and Nik Stauskas 11. Ersan Ilyasova had 10 rebounds.
The Sixers shot 47.7 percent from the field, had a 51-33 rebound advantage and overcame 19 turnovers.
The Hornets (24-31) have now lost three straight and 10 of their last 11.
Kemba Walker led the Hornets with 29 points. Nicolas Batum scored 16 points, Frank Kaminsky had 12 points and 11 rebounds, and Jeremy Lamb also scored 12 points.
The Sixers jumped out to a 17-5 lead early and led 31-22 after one quarter. They led 48-47 at halftime. The Sixers then pushed the lead back to 12 again in the third quarter and led 80-72 after three quarters.
NOTES: The Hornets acquired C Chris Andersen and cash from Cleveland on Monday for a protected second-round pick, and then they waived Andersen. It was a move made strictly to help the Cavaliers' luxury tax situation. ... The Hornets also announced that they had signed G Ray McCallum and C Mike Tobey to their second 10-day contracts. Neither saw any action during their first 10-day stints. ... The Hornets were without G Ramon Sessions (knee surgery) and C Cody Zeller (quad). ... The Sixers already have more wins this season than they did in any of the previous three campaigns. ... The Sixers were coming off a 117-109 win over Miami on Saturday, when they snapped the Heat's 13-game winning streak. ... The Hornets were coming off a 107-102 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday. ... The Sixers will remain on the road for a game at Boston on Wednesday. ... The Hornets were closing out a four-game homestand. They'll play at Toronto on Wednesday, then head back out after the All-Star break with a six-game trip to Detroit, Sacramento, the Los Angeles Clippers and Lakers, Phoenix and Denver.