CHICAGO -- With the playoffs race heating up, the Washington Wizards are knocking hard on the door. Thanks to All-Star point guard John Wall.
Wall recorded his second consecutive triple-double, this time a 16-points, 14 assists and 13 rebounds masterpiece that lifted Washington to a 99-94 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday night at the Wells Fargo Center. It was the Wizards' third straight win after losing five in a row.
Marcus Thornton added 18 points for Washington while Marcin Gortat and Markieff Morris registered 16 and 14 points, respectively. With a 33-35 record, the Wizards are a mere 1 1/2 games behind the 34-34 Chicago Bulls for 8th and last playoffs berth in the Eastern Conference.
With a league worst 9-59 card, there will be no playoffs hopes for the vanquished Sixers. But even in defeat, their 16th in 17 games, the Sixers had plenty to be proud of.
Trailing by as many as 24 points in the second half, Philly went on a spirited rally that knotted the count at 82-82 with still 5:19 left in the fourth quarter. Ultimately, the Sixers couldn't survive a rough shooting night in which they only made 35 of 91 field goals. Phily also got out-rebounded badly, 60-40.
"I'm proud of the fight. We did fight back. It turned into a game we could have stolen," Sixers head coach Brett Brown told NBA.com
Photo: Otto Porter of the Wizards sneaks past Nerlens Noel of the Sixers in Thursday night's game at the Wells Fargo Center. Washington held off the Sixers, 99-94.
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