MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Philadelphia 76ers were 16 seconds into their game against the Minnesota Timberwolves and Henry Sims was stepping to the free throw line when referee Zach Zarba blew his whistle and stopped the game.
Turns out the Sixers were going in the wrong direction, just like they have been all season long. The foul was wiped away, the teams switched sides and the game was restarted and the Sixers got pointed the right way.
The 76ers avoided tying the record for the worst start to a season in NBA history, ending their 0-17 skid with an 85-77 victory over the Timberwolves on Wednesday night.
A loss to the Timberwolves would have tied the 2009-10 New Jersey Nets for the worst start to a season in league history at 0-18. Many of these Sixers, including point guard Michael Carter-Williams and coach Brett Brown, were part of the team that lost 26 straight games last season, which tied the record for consecutive losses.
One-and-17 never felt so good.
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"For me personally, I think it's a big relief off my chest," Carter-Williams said. "And the same is for the rest of the guys now that we got a win."
Carter-Williams had 20 points, nine rebounds and nine assists and Robert Covington added 17 points in a game between two of the worst teams in the league.
Gorgui Dieng had 15 points and 16 rebounds for the Timberwolves. But Minnesota shot just 35.7 percent and turned the ball over 19 times to lose for the 11th time in 13 games.
NOTES:Wolves forward Andrew Wiggins was named the NBA rookie of the month. In 15 games in October and November, Wiggins averaged 11.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.1 steals and one assist along with 40 percent field-goal shooting.
76ers 85, Timberwolves 77
PHILADELPHIA (85)
Mbah a Moute 4-9 4-5 12, Noel 4-8 0-0 8, Sims 4-8 2-3 10, Carter-Williams 9-20 2-7 20, Thompson 1-6 1-2 3, McDaniels 4-13 2-2 12, Davies 0-1 0-0 0, Covington 5-13 4-4 17, Grant 1-3 1-2 3, Sampson 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 32-82 16-25 85.
MINNESOTA (77)
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Wiggins 4-12 2-2 11, Young 6-16 4-4 16, Dieng 6-12 3-5 15, Williams 5-14 2-2 14, Brewer 3-11 1-2 7, Hummel 1-3 2-2 4, Muhammad 2-5 0-0 4, Bennett 0-2 0-0 0, LaVine 3-6 0-0 6, Budinger 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 30-84 14-17 77.
Philadelphia 23 9 25 28—85
Minnesota 13 21 22 21—77
3-Point Goals— Philadelphia 5-24 (Covington 3-6, McDaniels 2-9, Sampson 0-1, Mbah a Moute 0-1, Carter-Williams 0-3, Thompson 0-4), Minnesota 3-17 (Williams 2-8, Wiggins 1-1, Hummel 0-1, Young 0-1, LaVine 0-2, Brewer 0-2, Budinger 0-2). Fouled Out— None. Rebounds— Philadelphia 60 (Mbah a Moute, Carter-Williams, McDaniels 9), Minnesota 56 (Dieng 16). Assists— Philadelphia 15 (Carter-Williams 9), Minnesota 17 (Williams 7). Total Fouls— Philadelphia 17, Minnesota 21. Technicals— Minnesota defensive three second. A— 10,463 (19,356).
