NBA Game Summary - Philadelphia at Washington

Washington, DC (Basketball News) - Marc Jackson, Andre Iguodala and Willie Green had 20 points apiece as the shorthanded Philadelphia 76ers defeated Washington, 112-106, at the Comcast Center.

The Sixers were playing without star guard Allen Iverson (thumb) and forward Chris Webber (shoulder).

"We came together very well as a unit tonight," Jackson said. "When Allen isn’t in there we have to play as a group."

Samuel Dalembert netted 18 points and Rodney Rogers had 17 for Philadelphia, which won its season-high fourth game in a row and moved within two games of first-place Boston in the Atlantic Division.

Green dished out a game-high nine assists in the win, and the Sixers remained in a tie with Cleveland for seventh place in the Eastern Conference.

"We played a tough-minded brand of basketball down the stretch to get a really crucial win," Sixers head coach Jim O’Brien said. "Our guys never lost their composure."

Gilbert Arenas poured in a career-high 44 points to lead the way for Washington, which lost its fifth straight, but remains in the sixth spot in the Eastern Conference playoff race. Larry Hughes had 23 points in the losing effort.

After falling behind by as many as 21 points in the first half, the Wizards came storming back and on the heels of a 9-0 run, claimed a 78-76 lead on an Arenas jumper with under three minutes to play in the third quarter.

Washington eventually led 85-80 heading into the final frame.

Hughes opened the final 12 minutes of play with a three-point play, while Arenas followed two possessions later with a three-pointer, staking the Wizards to a 93-80 lead.

The Sixers countered with 12 straight points, though, highlighted by four from Iguodala, including a thunderous dunk, to get within 93-92 with just over six minutes remaining.

The game continued to see-saw back-and-forth with neither team going ahead by three points over the next four-plus minutes, until Green finished off a two- on-one break with Iguodala with his layup, giving Philadelphia a 106-101 lead.

Trailing by five, Arenas tried to get off a three-point attempt with the shot clock winding down, but Green stole the ball and raced to the other end of the court, dishing it off to Dalembert for the easy dunk.

"Willie keeps himself ready," Jackson said. "He is very productive because he keeps himself ready day in and day out."

An Arenas three-pointer with 19.6 seconds left made it a 109-106 game. Kyle Korver then hit 1-of-2 from the line for Philadelphia, making it 110-106.

On the ensuing possession, Arenas threw up another three-point attempt, but this one rimmed out with the rebound falling to the Sixers and ultimately sealing the victory.

Philadelphia dominated the first 24 minutes of play and garnered a 35-21 lead after the first quarter. Bridging a 17-0 run over the final three-plus minutes of the stanza into the opening moments of the second frame, the Sixers grabbed a 42-21 advantage on a John Salmons trey with 10:56 to play in the half.

Philadelphia led 64-52 at intermission.