Okafor scores 19, 76ers beat Wizards 109-102
Philadelphia 76ers’ Dario Saric (9) goes up for a shot between Washington Wizards’ Marcin Gortat (13) and Marcus Thornton (15) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016, in Philadelphia. AP
PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania—After helping the Philadelphia 76ers build an eight-point lead down the stretch, Jahlil Okafor could only watch from the bench as the lead dwindled.
Okafor scored 19 points on 8-for-11 shooting before fouling out with 2:56 left and Richaun Holmes made a key 3-pointer with just over a minute remaining to help the 76ers beat the injury-plagued Washington Wizards 109-102 Wednesday night.
Okafor went to the bench with the Sixers holding a 101-93 lead. Washington then made a run, pulling to 103-100 with 1:29 to play.
However, after a timeout, Holmes made a 3-pointer from just in front of the Wizards’ bench to extend the lead to six points with 1:10 remaining.
“That was big,” Okafor said. “I was excited. I know how hard he works every day, so for it to go in for him and for the team, it was a big win for us.”
Holmes added: “I tried to get out there as fast as I could and get ready to shoot the ball. We’ve talked about picking my spots and that was pretty good spot to pick.”
Ersan Ilyasova had 16 points, Nik Stauskas scored 15 points, and Gerald Henderson 14 to help the 76ers win for just the second time in 11 games this season. Dario Saric added 13 points and 12 rebounds.
The 76ers were without leading-scorer Joel Embiid, the third pick overall in the 2014 NBA draft, who has been brought along slowly after missing two seasons because of two foot surgeries.
“We’re scratching and clawing for wins,” 76ers coach Brett Brown said. “I think there’s something to be said for being able to get a win without Joel, and (Okafor) was a major contributor.”
The Wizards, who were held to just one basket in their final three possessions, fell to 2-8.
John Wall scored 23 of his 27 points in the second half and Markieff Morris had 19 points for the Wizards, who were without second-leading scorer Bradley Beal.
Otto Porter Jr. had 15 points and 13 rebounds, Marcin Gortat added 10 points and 14 boards, and Marcus Thornton also scored 10.
“We’re too good to be losing,” Morris said. “No disrespect to the Sixers or any other team we lost to. The coach should never have to coach effort, especially when you’re 2-7.”
Morris was referring to coach Scott Brooks, who said his team came out too slow against the team with the NBA’s worst record.
The Sixers opened the game with an 11-4 run, thanks in part to Ilyasova’s eight points in the opening quarter. The Wizards responded by scoring the next six points, but the Sixers went on an 11-2 run to end the first quarter with a 29-15 lead.
Wall, meanwhile, saw just 7:28 in the first half and managed just four points on 1-for-4 shooting.
“I was frustrated, basically the whole first half, only playing 7 minutes,” said Wall, who is also on minutes restriction after having surgery on both knees in the offseason. “The game starts getting closer and it’s frustrating not being out there to help my guys win the game.”
