By Martha Sullivan
There is gloom in Sixersland this morning.
There will be no NBA playoff games in Philly this spring!
John Wall (above) scored 16 of his 37 points in the fourth quarter, and the Washington Wizards rallied for a 116-108 victory over the last-place Sixers last night in Washington.
Marcin Gortat added 13 of his 18 points in the fourth and grabbed a career-high 20 rebounds for Washington, which was outscored 26-6 by Philadelphia to open the second half before responding with a 16-0 run in the fourth quarter.
Markieff Morris had 16 points and 13 rebounds in his first double-double with Washington. It was his first start since joining the Wizards at the trade deadline.
In the Wizards’ five previous wins, they held opponents under 100 points. This time, the 76ers scored 60 points in the second half, even with rookie center Jahlil Okafor sidelined by a bruised right shin.
Ish Smith had 25 points and reserve Carl Landry scored 15 for the 76ers, who were outrebounded 53-32 in their ninth straight loss. Philadelphia was officially eliminated from playoff contention, according to STATS, and hasn’t won on the road since Jan. 20.
”I was proud of our games for a lot in that game. The third period, the camaraderie on the bench, the spirit on the floor,” Sixers coach Brett Brown said. ”We just have to play longer.”
The Wizards trailed by seven before Wall spearheaded their run midway through the fourth.
Wall gave the Wizards the lead when he drove the lane, hit a layup while absorbing Robert Covington’s foul, and finished the three-point play to make it 95-93.
Then he added a steal and a layup, Gortat converted a three-point play off a driving layup, and Morris hit a pair of free throws to make it 102-93 with 5:43 left.
Smith’s 3-pointer cut it to 110-107 with 1:09 remaining. But Wall spotted Morris for a jumper and followed with a fadeaway.
”Sometimes when things aren’t going our way, just be more aggressive,” Wall said of his performance, ”but also do it in the team concept. Taking good shots, getting into a rhythm, getting to the basket, and just finishing plays.”
