Bobcats inch closer to playoff spot
March 31, 2010
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP)—Gerald Wallace(notes) had 24 points and 12 rebounds, TysonChandler(notes) added a season-high 15 points, and the Charlotte Bobcats moved a stepcloser to their first playoff berth with a 103-84 victory over the undermannedPhiladelphia 76ers on Wednesday night.
Bouncing back from a home loss two nights earlier to Toronto, the Bobcatsforced 25 turnovers, took 24 more free throws than the 76ers and dominated thesecond half to move four games ahead of ninth-place Chicago in the EasternConference with eight games left. The top eight teams make the playoffs.
Andre Iguodala(notes) scored 14 points amid foul trouble for the Sixers, whodressed only nine players in their second straight loss and 49th of the season.Elton Brand(notes) was held to eight points on 4 of 13 shooting.
Charlotte, meanwhile, got a strong game from Chandler inside—and it’s beena long time coming. Slowed for much of the season with foot and ankle problems,the player acquired from New Orleans for Emeka Okafor(notes) in the offseason hadfailed to provide the expected life and versatility inside.
But Chandler has said in the past few weeks he’s finally healthy, and he wasnearly perfect against the Sixers.
Chandler was 4 of 5 from the field and 7 of 8 from the line while grabbingsix rebounds. That made up for Stephen Jackson’s(notes) off night (16 points, 7 of 19shooting) as the Bobcats improved to 28-9 at home.
After beating likely playoff teams Milwaukee and Atlanta, the Sixers havereturned to their struggling ways with consecutive blowout losses to OklahomaCity and Charlotte.
Philadelphia was further short-handed after Rodney Carney(notes) couldn’t go afterinjuring his right big toe Tuesday against Oklahoma City. Thaddeus Young(notes) (thumb)and Louis Williams(notes) (back) didn’t travel.
To make matters worse, coach Eddie Jordan said before the game he’ll have tolimit Iguodala’s minutes because of the lingering plantar fasciitis in his rightfoot.
Foul trouble made it easy to sit him. Iguodala picked up his fourth foulwith 6:47 left in the third quarter. Before the period was over, Brand had fivefouls and Samuel Dalembert(notes) four, helping Charlotte take control with acollection of dunks and free throws.
Wallace had a one-handed alley-oop jam on a feed from Raymond Felton(notes), then alayup on a behind-the-head pass from Boris Diaw(notes) as the Bobcats took a 77-59lead.
After the Bobcats were upset with several calls down the stretch of Monday’sloss to Toronto, new owner Michael Jordan took little time to target thereferees from his seat next to the Charlotte bench. He yelled after an out ofbounds call went Philadelphia’s way, and the call was overturned by the trailofficial.
Jordan was in a much better mood when he rocked back in his chair inlaughter during a conversation with referee Leon Wood before the start of thesecond quarter. The Jordan on the other bench, however, was steamed with a 16-3free-throw discrepancy as the Bobcats built a 16-point first-half lead.
But Philadelphia’s inability to hold onto the ball played a big role, too.Rookie Jrue Holiday(notes) had seven turnovers and Brand four.
NOTES: Bobcats coach Larry Brown praised Eddie Jordan for how the Sixershave played hard after being eliminated from playoff contention. Asked if acoaching change would set the franchise back—Jordan’s future is uncertain—Brown replied, “I don’t think they ever help.” Brown finished his thought bytaking a shot at himself. “After watching us play the last game you might bethinking we should make a coaching change,” he said. … Bobcats F Tyrus Thomas(notes)(ankle) dressed but missed his second straight game. … Sixers F MarreeseSpeights(notes) picked up third-quarter technical foul.
