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'Best' & 'Worst' awards: Sixers vs. Nuggets

My look at some of the best and worst performances and happenings from the Denver Nuggets' 103-92 victory over the 76ers on Saturday night at the Wells Fargo Center:

Best performance: This is an easy one. Jordan Hamilton hit the big shots in the Nuggets' decisive 15-2 fourth-quarter run to clinch the victory. The reserve forward hit three consecutive three-pointers to put his team ahead, 99-88, with 3 minutes, 22 seconds left. Hamilton finished with 13 points on 4-for-5 shooting (3 for 3 on three-pointers) to go with five rebounds and two steals in 22 minutes.

Worst performance:  It seems strange to give this award to someone, who finished with five assists and two steals.  However, this has to go to Evan Turner. The Sixers swingman shot 3-for-12 from field in route to scoring six points. That's way below the fourth-year player's scoring average of 20.5 points, which is tied for 18th in the league. Turner also finished with just one rebound. He must be more aggressive if the Sixers expect to steal victories.

Best defensive performance: Even though Spencer Hawes had a game-high two blocked shots, this award goes to Thaddeus Young. The Sixers power forward had two steals to go with a blocked shot. Young also finishedwith 14 points and seven rebounds – five on the defensive end – two assists and two turnovers in 32 minutes.

Best performance in a losing effort: Young wins this award due to filling out a stat sheet. That gives him the nod over Tony Wroten (20 points, five rebounds, three turnovers) over Hollis Thompson (10 points, nine rebounds, three assists, two turnovers).

Worst statistic: You have to give this to the Sixers' three-point shooting, once again. They made just 3 of 16 three-pointers (18.8 percent).

Best statistic: This award goes to the Nuggets' bench points. Denver's reserves outscored the Sixers' bench, 54-28. Reserve guard Nate Robinson scored a team-high 20 points.

Worst of the Worst:  This award goes to the Sixers' performance in the final 6:52 after starters Turner, Hawes, and Young reentered the game. The Sixers went on to miss nine of their final 12 shot attempts and commit six costly turnovers en route to their 11-point loss.

- Keith Pompey

Follow and contact Inquirer 76ers beat writer Keith Pompey on Twitter @PompeyOnSixers.