With fourth-quarter specialist Marreese Speights out six to eight weeks with a partially torn MCL, the Sixers are trying to find more scoring off the bench. Speights was the leading scorer among the reserves, with a 13-point average, and could score inside and out. In the Sixers' first game without Speights, Elton Brand assumed the bulk of Speights' role en route to playing 42 minutes -- his most since Dec. 2, 2008 -- and recording season-high totals in points (19), rebounds (11), blocks (six) and steals (three). "He did a good job tonight," said swingman Andre Iguodala. "It wasn't us getting him involved -- he got himself involved with blocked shots and offensive put-backs. He just had a little pep in his step tonight."
Brand, the starting power forward, was so effective that he played nine fourth-quarter minutes at center after sitting out six of the previous eight final periods.
"What he did on the floor warranted his playing time," said head coach Eddie Jordan. "He was active. He got it done defensively first. He got some steals, was pressuring up on his man and getting rebounds early. He's a pro, man. He's got a lot of confidence."
For his part, Brand, whose 12 points at the half were more than he'd scored in any of the prior seven outings, said he's not used to having to earn his crunch-time minutes.
"This is definitely a position I haven't been in, but I don't mind it," Brand said. "I have to do (a lot of things) for this team to be successful. I know that."
SIXERS 86, BOBCATS 84: The Sixers made some key stops down the stretch and got in the open court late to overtake Charlotte. They limited the Bobcats to .292 shooting (7-for-24) from three-point land and .333 (7-for-21) from the field in the fourth quarter. Lou Williams scored six of the Sixers' final seven points, including the game-winner on a drive to the bucket with 3.1 seconds left.
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