• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

76ers-Bobcats Preview

Mar 31, 2010 - 3:30 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Philadelphia (26-47) at Charlotte (38-35), 7:00 p.m. EDT

The Charlotte Bobcats are taking a cautious approach as they move closer to the franchise's first playoff berth.

Trying to bounce back from their first home loss in almost a month, the Bobcats look for a third straight win over the visiting Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night.

After posting a losing record in each of their first five seasons, the Bobcats (38-35) are in good position to finally make the playoffs. With nine games left, Charlotte is seventh in the Eastern Conference, 1 1/2 games behind sixth-place Miami.

However, with ninth-place Chicago 3 1/2 games behind Charlotte and trying to move into playoff position, the Bobcats are not taking anything for granted, especially because they have two games remaining with the Bulls. That seems to make every game crucial down the stretch.

That includes this meeting with Philadelphia (26-48), which has dropped four straight at Charlotte and is 2-8 all-time on the road versus the Bobcats. Charlotte also won 102-87 at Philadelphia in the teams' last meeting March 10.

"They're a young, athletic team," forward Gerald Wallace told the Bobcats' official Web site about the 76ers. "They have guys on their team with a lot of pride. Spoiler or no spoiler, I don't think they want to lose. We beat them in Philly, and I think they're going to try to avenge their loss."

Wallace scored 28 points against the 76ers earlier this month, and is averaging 26.5 and 12.5 rebounds in his last two home games versus Philadelphia.

Wallace had 17 points with eight rebounds, while Raymond Felton and Stephen Jackson scored 18 points apiece in a 103-101 loss to eighth-place Toronto on Monday that snapped Charlotte's seven-game home winning streak.

In an atmosphere similar to that of a playoff contest, the game featured several rough fouls and three technicals. Charlotte had a chance to win but couldn't get a shot off in the final seconds while trailing by two points.

"And this isn't even close to what the playoffs are going to be like," said Jackson, who's averaging 21.0 points in three games against the 76ers this season.

Philadelphia's bid for a third consecutive victory over a playoff contender ended with a 111-93 home loss to Oklahoma City on Tuesday. The 76ers committed 17 turnovers and were held to 19 fourth-quarter points.

"We were close for a while, and then the beginning of the fourth quarter, they kind of exploded on us," said Philadelphia's Elton Brand, who had a team-high 22 points.

Andre Iguodala added 21 with eight assists and seven rebounds for the 76ers, who will miss the playoffs for the first time in three seasons.

Despite their latest defeat, the 76ers will try to win consecutive games on the road for the first time since Feb. 5-6. Philadelphia is 14-23 away from home this season.

Iguodala, who's averaged 23.0 points, 8.5 rebounds and 8.5 assists over his last two games, is averaging 20.0 points against Charlotte this season.