Bobcats at 76ers
The Charlotte Bobcats are closing in on the second playoff appearance in franchise history and can take another step when they visit the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday. Charlotte sits in seventh place in the Eastern Conference and moved within two games of sixth-place Washington after defeating the Wizards on Monday. The 2009-10 season marks the only time the Bobcats have qualified for the postseason in the franchise’s nine previous campaigns.
Philadelphia was unable to post consecutive victories after breaking its record-tying 26-game losing streak. The 76ers succumbed to the Atlanta Hawks on Monday one night after halting their skid with an impressive win over the Detroit Pistons. The visit to Philadelphia begins a stretch in which Charlotte plays four of five games on the road. The Bobcats, who are 14-22 away from the home, host Orlando on Friday prior to an excursion to Cleveland, Washington and Boston.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, SportSouth (Charlotte), CSN Philadelphia
ABOUT THE BOBCATS (36-38): Guard Kemba Walker has scored 20 or more points in seven of the last eight games despite shooting less than 40 percent from the field in six of the contests. Walker had 21 points and 10 assists in the victory over Washington but was just 6-of-22 from the field, including missing all 10 3-point attempts. Strong free-throw shooting – he made 90.8 percent of his attempts in March – help Walker remain productive even when his shot suffers. He is averaging 18 points, second on the squad behind center Al Jefferson (21.5).
ABOUT THE 76ERS (16-58): Starting guard James Anderson would be a bench player on most NBA teams but he has taken advantage of his opportunity to play significant minutes. The fourth-year pro averaged four points or less while splitting his first three seasons with San Antonio and Houston, and familiarity with coach Brett Brown’s system – the first-year coach was an assistant with the Spurs – has helped him emerge to average 10.4 points. Anderson is a streaky shooter who knocked down five or more 3-pointers on three occasions in March while making one or none six other times.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The 76ers have won seven of the past nine in the series after the teams split two meetings earlier this season.
2. Charlotte is 23-5 when scoring 100 or more points this season.
3. Philadelphia F Arnett Moultrie has been suspended five games without pay for violating the NBA’s drug policies for the third time.