Sixers' young lineup holds off the Pacers
With their top two scorers out of action last night, the 76ers had to come up with some different lineups and hope their young players could contribute. Louis Williams delivered.
With their top two scorers out of action last night, the 76ers had to come up with some different lineups and hope their young players could contribute. Louis Williams delivered.
The second-year guard, who has had a regular spot in the rotation for less than two months, made up for the absence of Andre Iguodala and Kyle Korver with a career-high 18 points to lift the Sixers to a 90-86 victory over Indiana and deal a blow to the Pacers' fading playoff chances.
The Pacers, who shot just 32.7 percent from the field, the lowest for a Sixers opponent all season, fell to two games behind Orlando for the Eastern Conference's eighth and final playoff spot with five games to go for each team.
Williams, 20, who spent his first 11/2 seasons as a pro learning to be a point guard after spending his high school career as a scorer, played both positions last night in nearly 30 minutes of playing time.
"Louis Williams took a major step tonight," Sixers coach Maurice Cheeks said. "I just thought he was the biggest difference in the game, being a young guard stepping up and playing the way he played."
Williams, who made 6 of 11 shots in topping his previous career best of 13 points, said it was just a matter of trying to get better every day.
"Every time I go out there, I just try to have a big night," he said. "Obviously, it doesn't necessarily happen or work that way. So every game, you try to come out and try to play hard and see what good things can happen for you."
Williams wasn't the only young player to step up amid the absences of Iguodala (lower back strain) and Korver (torn right wrist tendon). Rookie forward Bobby Jones got his first career NBA start in place of Iguodala and hustled through nearly 25 minutes with four points and five rebounds.
Andre Miller, who hit a key jumper to put the Sixers up three with 1 minute, 25 seconds remaining, led the way with 19 points and 11 assists. Joe Smith added 17 points and 11 rebounds, and Samuel Dalembert chipped in with 15 points, 12 boards and 3 blocked shots.
The Pacers missed 66 field-goal attempts, or one fewer than the Sixers took overall. Danny Granger bricked his first 13 tries and finished 2 of 17. Jermaine O'Neal led Indiana with 21 points, but hit just 7 of 22 shots.
"We couldn't hit a bull in the butt with a bass fiddle, and that's the story of the game," Indiana coach Rick Carlisle said.
However, 20 offensive rebounds, a 27-11 advantage in second-chance points and a season-low six turnovers kept the Pacers in it.
Miller helped the Sixers take the lead for good in the fourth quarter by grabbing a long rebound and throwing a length-of-the-court pass to Smith for a dunk. Miller hit a basket and Smith made five free throws in the final 14 seconds.
Miller admired the way the Sixers' young players performed.
"They played under control," the veteran point guard said. "That's the main thing. When it was time to attack to the basket, guys got to the basket and to the free-throw line. When it was time to pull the ball out and run a play, we did that."
The Sixers, who posted their 21st home win of the season to assure themselves of a winning record at the Wachovia Center, also used a 30-of-39 showing at the free-throw line to help themselves.
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