He doesn't play major minutes, is not a big scorer and doesn't shoot free throws particularly well. But Reggie Evans can be a difference-maker for the Sixers with his defensive pressure and hustle.
Evans spearheaded a 15-0 second-quarter run by forcing three turnovers, grabbing six rebounds and scoring four points in playing all but seven seconds of the period against the Celtics. The fans rewarded him with chants of "Reg-gie, Reg-gie" in the midst of the spurt. Evans finished with eight points, 10 rebounds and two steals in 24 minutes during a 100-99 loss to Boston. Evans, who only played more minutes once this season (31 in a Dec. 29 loss at Utah), has seen his role diminish by the addition of Elton Brand. He is averaging 2.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 12.1 minutes in 2008-09 after averaging 5.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 23.2 minutes a year ago.
"He came in and gave us the spark that we needed," said swingman Andre Iguodala.
The Sixers seemed flat early in falling behind by as many as 15 points. Evans changed all that.
"Reggie Evans turned the game around for them," said Celtics coach Doc Rivers. "He came in and played with great energy. It looked like he got everybody else on his team going."
CELTICS 100, 76ERS 99: The Sixers led for 11 minutes, 59.5 seconds of the fourth quarter, but lost on a Ray Allen three-pointer with 0.5 seconds remaining. The Celtics extended their win streak to 12 without Kevin Garnett (flu) by shooting .539 from the field and holding a 41-33 rebounding advantage.
The 23-24 Sixers, who dropped to 1-2 on their seven-game homestand, forced 21 turnovers while committing 10 and made more free throws (24) than the Celtics attempted (16). Andre Iguodala (22 points) and Andre Miller (21) paced the Sixers.
