Hawes Has 18, 76ers End 8-Game Road Losing Streak
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) -- Spencer Hawes scored a season-high 18 points and the Philadelphia 76ers snapped an eight-game road losing streak with an 82-77 victory over the slumping New Jersey Nets on Tuesday night.
Jrue Holiday had 19 points and Elton Brand added 15 as the 76ers won for only the second time in 12 road games and ended their longest losing streak away from home since 2006.
Philadelphia has won two straight and six of eight after a 3-13 start.
Brook Lopez scored 16 points for the Nets, who lost their eighth straight overall and sixth straight to the 76ers. Devin Harris and Travis Outlaw added 14 points apiece for New Jersey, which just came up short with a late run.
The Nets played without swingman Terrence Williams. The team's 2009 first-round draft pick was sent home before the game because he is reportedly part of a three-team trade with the Rockets and Lakers.
Williams will go to Houston. New Jersey will get the Rockets' first-round draft pick in 2012, the Lakers' first-round pick in 2011 and current Lakers shooting guard Sasha Vujacic.
The Lakers would get veteran forward Joe Smith, who was active for the Nets on Tuesday night.
The deal cannot be completed until Dec. 15 because Smith signed with the Nets in the offseason as a free agent.
Despite missing the troubled spark plug, the Nets had a chance late when Harris hit a layup and Stephen Graham stole a pass at midcourt and found Outlaw for a 3-pointer, cutting the lead to 78-75.
Andre Iguodala, however, hit two free throws with 15.2 seconds to go and the Nets never got close.
Hawes and Holiday came up big in the final quarter for the 76ers.
The Nets twice cut the lead to three points, but Hawes put in a rebound and Holiday hit a high-arcing 3-pointer to push the lead to 68-60.
After a basket by Harris, Holiday hit two free throws and Iguodala hit a free throw and a reverse dunk to push the lead to 73-62.
New Jersey responded with a 13-5 spurt to get close. Holiday scored all five Philadelphia points in the run, converting a pass from Hawes for a layup and a three-point play.
Trailing 57-46 late in the third quarter the Nets made a run with Lopez and Harris on the bench.
Outlaw hit a 3-pointer and rookie Ben Uzoh converted a three-point play and had an assist to Derrick Favors to set up another three-point play in a 9-2 spurt that got New Jersey within 59-55 entering the fourth quarter.
NOTES: Iguodala had a 3-point attempt wedge between the rim and the backboard in the third quarter. The Nets won the ensuing jump ball. ... Nets shooting guard Anthony Morrow played 14 seconds in the first quarter before aggravating a sore hamstring. He did not return.
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