MINNEAPOLIS (Sporting Alert, Box Score) — A win has come at last for the Philadelphia 76ers, and there was a sense of relief and joy in the locker.
After making an 0-17 start to the season, the 76ers finally secured a win in the 2014-15 term after beating Minnesota Timberwolves 85-77 on Wednesday night.
“There’s a human side to it,” Philadelphia coach Brett Brown said. “You walk into that locker room and you’re just proud of them for sticking together.
“They were overjoyed.”
Michael Carter-Williams paced Philadelphia with 20 points, nine assists and nine rebounds and Robert Covington added 17 points off the bench to help the 76ers stop the lengthy losing streak.
“For me personally, it’s a big relief off my chest,” said Covington, who went three of six from long range. “The same for the rest of the guys.
“They say that they feel more relaxed now that we have a win. I think we can build off this and get some more wins.”
The win also meant that Philadelphia avoid matching the 0-18 record for the worst start in NBA history by New Jersey Nets in the 2009-10 season.
“There’s a human side to it,” Philadelphia coach Brett Brown said. “You walk into that locker room and you’re just proud of them for sticking together. They were overjoyed.”
Thaddeus Young had 16 points and six rebounds for the Wolves, while Gorgui Dieng finished with season-bests 15 points and 16 boards in the defeat as Minnesota (4-13) dropped their third game in a row and sixth in the last seven.
Drew Gordon had 12 points, nine rebounds and four blocks and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute finished with 12 points and nine boards for the Sixers, which shot just 39.0 percent from the field and went 5 for 24 from three-pointers.
They also turned the ball over 18 times.
Mo Williams scored 14 points and collected seven assists and six rebounds and rookie Andrew Wiggins scored 11 points and five boards for the Timberwolves.
Philadelphia started the contest scoring 23 points in the first quarter, but were then held to just nine points in the second.
However, things got better for the visitors at the Target Center and they went on to score 53 of the team’s overall points in the second half.
Williams knocked down a 24-foot three-pointer to give the Wolves a 75-73 lead with 2:16 left, but K.J. McDaniels answered back for the 76ers with a three-pointer of his own for a 76-75 lead.
Carter-Williams, Covington and Nerlens Noel all made shots in the closing minutes of the game to secure the win.
The Timberwolves missed all their shots in the final 1:21 of the contest.
“What is disappointing was the sense of urgency,” Minnesota head coach Flip Saunders said. “We’ll have to address that.
“There’s not really much to say on that. Our sense of urgency wasn’t there. … We’re not a very good team right now.”
Minnesota will face the Houston Rockets at Target Center on Friday, with the Sixers hosting the Oklahoma City Thunder on the same day.
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