Sixers beat Celtics in final home game

In spite of everything, 76ers coach Brett Brown thinks his team is in a great spot.

In spite of the NBA-record-tying 26-game losing streak and the 63 losses, Brown is excited about the steps the Sixers are about to undertake heading into next season.

"We will take the wrappings off and redeliver a team in September," said Brown, whose Sixers escaped with a 113-108 victory over the Boston Celtics on Monday night at the Wells Fargo Center. "And after a few summer leagues, I think that focus is just a really exciting time for the Philadelphia 76ers."

But for now, some might argue that the primary focus should be on hurrying up to finish what has been a tanking season.

The Sixers (18-63) snapped a four-game losing streak and posted their third win at home since Jan. 1. This was their third win - home or away - in the last 35 games.

And it wasn't decided until an apparent game-tying three-pointer by Chris Johnson with 0.9 seconds remaining was nullified because the Celtic's foot was out of bounds.

"I just was praying it wouldn't go in," Sixers point guard Michael Carter-Williams said. "And when the ref blew that whistle, I thought he was going to call foul. I was confused. I saw him point at the [out-of-bounds] line, I was happy about it."

The Sixers won three of four meetings with the Celtics (25-56) this season. Carter-Williams had his 16th double-double, finishing with 21 points, 14 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals, and 2 blocked shots.

The Sixers end the season Wednesday in Miami against the Heat.

There's a lot of optimism surrounding the team's two first-round picks and five second-rounders in June's draft.

Brown was asked what fans can expect next season in terms of wins and losses.

"I have no idea," he said. "What I do know is the rebuild is going to be a completely different rebuild. We are going to be raising our own. We are going to have a bunch of 20-year-olds."

They also are going to have the services of rookie center Nerlens Noel, who sat out this season. Even with the shot blocker, the team will experience more growing pains.

"But it's going to be entirely different in relation to what we are doing and who we are doing it with," Brown said. "We are going to be that much further ahead next year."

If will be interesting to see whether Arnett Moultrie will be around next season.

He rejoined the squad Monday after serving a five-game suspension without pay for violating the league's anti-drug program.

At the time, the 6-foot-10 power forward was in his second stint with the Delaware 87ers, the Sixers' NBA Development League team. Even before his suspension, Moultrie wasn't in the franchise's good graces.

"I think the five-game suspension is my wake-up call," Moultrie said. "So right now, everything is behind me. It's water under the bridge. I'm going to move forward."

Brown did not exactly give him a ringing endorsement. "I think that will be determined," he said of Moultrie's future.

Regardless of who is on the team, the franchise hopes to break ground on a team-owned practice facility as soon as possible. The Sixers now practice at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.

"I just know from my job and the need to develop, it's crucial," Brown said of having a practice facility. "It's a huge part of an NBA program. We are aggressive in trying to make sure that that happens in a realistic time frame. I believe we are the last team in the NBA to have our own facility."

The Sixers signed reserve guard Casper Ware to a multiyear, non-guaranteed deal. He completed his second 10-day contract with the team on Sunday.

10

Sixers wins in 41 home games this season.

100.3

Their average points per game at home.

110.3

Visiting opponents' points per game.

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