Bobcats 105, 76ers 88
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Forward Jeffery Taylor matched a career high with 20 points to lead six players in double figures as the Charlotte Bobcats rolled to a 105-88 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night.
The Bobcats put together their finest offensive performance of the season, breaking the 100-point barrier for just the second time. Their previous team high was 102 in a victory at New York last month. They came into the game averaging 88.8 points, which ranks 30th in the NBA.
Taylor, moved into the starting lineup after forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist suffered a fractured hand at Dallas on Tuesday, also scored 20 off the bench earlier this season at Chicago.
The Bobcats received 18 points from guard Gerald Henderson, 18 points and 10 assists from guard Kemba Walker, 14 points and 12 rebounds from center Al Jefferson, 13 points from guard Ramon Sessions and 10 points from forward Cody Zeller.
Guard Tony Wroten led the Sixers with 21 points. Forward Evan Turner scored 16, guard Hollis Thompson added 12 and center Spencer Hawes had 10 points and 13 rebounds.
The Sixers were without guard Michael Carter-Williams, who stayed in Philadelphia because of right knee soreness. Coach Brett Brown said there is no timetable for Carter-Williams' return, calling it "moment to moment."
Charlotte set the tone with a 36-point first quarter and led 62-51 at halftime. The Bobcats led 84-72 after three quarters and then pushed the lead to as many as 18 in the fourth quarter.
The Bobcats, who snapped a two-game losing streak, are now 9-11. The Sixers fell to 7-13 and lost for the ninth time in their last 11 games.
NOTES: The Sixers' last road win came in the season opener at Washington. They were 1-7 on the road for the season entering Friday's game. The Sixers lost 15 straight road games during one stretch last season. ... The Sixers were coming off a 126-125 double overtime win over Orlando on Tuesday night, their fourth overtime game of the season. They are 3-1 in extra play. ... The Bobcats returned home Friday night to open a three-game homestand, after losses at Miami and Dallas earlier in the week. They were coming off an 89-82 loss at Dallas on Tuesday. ... The Bobcats expect to be without F Michael Kidd-Gilchrist for 4-6 weeks with a fractured left hand. They have also been without C Brendan Haywood all season as he recovers from a stress fracture in his left foot. ... G Michael Carter-Williams missed four games earlier this season with a left foot arch bruise, and the Sixers were 1-3 in those games. ... The Sixers have not had C Nerlens Noel and F Arnett Moultrie at all this season, both out with left ankle injuries. ... This is the first of four meetings between the Eastern Conference rivals this season. They will meet again in Philadelphia on Jan. 15, and then twice more in April. ... Bobcats C Al Jefferson came into the game on a streak of three straight games with double-doubles, making him the first Bobcat to do so since F Gerald Wallace in February of 2011. ... The Bobcats will remain home to face Golden State on Monday. ... The Sixers will return home to face Denver on Saturday.
