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Iguodala shines as Sixers edge Bobcats

Jan 27, 2008 - 4:06 AM By Derek Smith PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (Ticker) -- Andre Iguodala scored 23 of his season-high 33 points in the second half to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a 103-96 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats on Saturday night.

The 76ers won for just the third time in January and snapped a four-game skid, including a loss to the lowly New York Knicks on Friday night.

"I told (Iguodala) before the game to be a little bit selfish," Philadelphia coach Maurice Cheeks said. "I wanted him to be a little bit more aggressive and wanted him to take it in his own hands a little bit."

Iguodala's season-best performance included a wind-mill dunk to punctuate the win in the final minute.

Philadelphia took control of the game in the third quarter after trailing most of the first half.

"I just got in a groove," Iguodala said. "Andre Miller found me in some great spots, and I got going and late in the game, my jumper really got going."

Iguodala scored the first five points of the second half to trim Charlotte's lead to just three points at 55-52. The Bobcats built their lead back to six before the Sixers turned up the heat and tied the score at 62-62 on Willie Green's jumper.

Jason Richardson's 3-pointer gave the Bobcats a 71-67 lead with 4:41 left, but it was the last points they would score in the third quarter.

"They became the aggressor instead of us burying them," Richardson said. "They got confidence and came out and made a big run."

Philadelphia took the lead for good on Jason Smith's basket at the 2:51 mark. Iguodala scored a basket at the buzzer for the Sixers to cap a 13-0 run and take an 80-71 lead into the final period.

"I just need to go out and play," Iguodala said. "There's time where I look to pass when I should shoot. I realized I need to come out from the start and be aggressive."

Iguodala scored the first five points for Philadelphia in the fourth quarter as well to push the Sixers' lead to 85-73. The Bobcats were never able to get closer than five in the final quarter.

Miller scored 23 points and Louis Williams added 12 off the bench for Philadelphia.

"It's good for us to have this win," Williams said. "We came back from a tough loss (Friday at New York) and get a good effort and the win, too."

Richardson scored 35 points, including a team-record seven 3-pointers, and Gerald Wallace and Emeka Okafor each contributed double-doubles for the Bobcats, who have dropped four straight at home.

The Bobcats played without point guard Raymond Felton, who had a left ankle sprain.

It won't get any easier for Charlotte, which has played a league-high 28 home games, and now heads on the road for 21 of its next 29 contests.