Wizards beat Sixers by one point in overtime

Get used to this.

The Wizards and Sixers fought back and forth all game and only a Cartier Martin miracle three kept the Sixers out of the win column. He should have been fouled before the shot went off. In overtime, Andre Iguodala missed the final shot to ensure Doug Collins being winless in his four attempts.

Doug Collins showed his huevos by sticking with a lineup that worked in the later stages of the game. Lou, Jrue, Turner, Thad, and Brand was the lineup in crunch time. Offensively, the fourth quarter was great, tallying 40 points in the final frame. Elton Brand continued to play well, scoring 21 points on 9 shots and adding 9 rebounds, 3 assists and 4 steals. He fouled out late in the game. Louis Williams scored the bulk of his 30 points from the foul line in the fourth, hitting some crucial free throws and a few fadeaway three’s that shouldn’t have fallen. Evan Turner went toe to toe with John Wall a number of times to the crowd’s delight. Turner doesn’t have as big of a role on this team as John Wall does, so to compare them now, after one game, would be pointless. Wall was the better player coming out of the draft — that’s why he was the number one pick.

Ultimately, it was the offense’s inability to hold onto the ball that was their undoing. 22 turnovers, aided by 9 John Wall steals, isn’t going to win you basketball games. Defense was mediocre as well. Nick Young (again) was murderous early on and ended with 20 points in just 23 minutes. Andray Blatche stepped out and hit jump shots all day long.

Jrue Holiday played a better game, especially in the first half, but really couldn’t stay in control with the ball late in the game. Wall got his hands in the passing lanes far too much. Hawes and Speights were better, but still entirely too invisible for our centers.

0-4 and they have Indiana for the second time tomorrow night. Rough start for Doug Collins, but close losses help both development and ping pong balls, so if you ask me (you are), this is great.

Preview: Sixers Still Looking For First Win As They Face Wizards

(Sports Network) - The first two picks of this past summer's NBA Draft will go head-to-head tonight in DC, where No. 1 overall selection John Wall and the Washington Wizards play host to Evan Turner and the Philadelphia 76ers.

After polishing his skills at Kentucky, Wall went to the Wizards with the top pick in the draft and made his debut in last Thursday's loss at Orlando, scoring 14 points and handing out nine assists. Wall, who is nursing a balky right ankle, recorded 28 points and another nine assists in Saturday's 99-95 road setback to Atlanta.

The speedy Wall is expected to play tonight for the 0-2 Wizards.

Turner, meanwhile, went second in the draft to Philadelphia and hasn't started a game for the winless 76ers (0-3). He netted 16 points in his debut last Wednesday versus Miami, but was held scoreless in less than 19 minutes of action in Friday's loss to Atlanta. Turner is averaging 27.7 minutes per game, while Wall is posting 38.5 minutes.

The former Ohio State standout had nine points and seven rebounds in Saturday's 99-86 loss at Indiana, Philadelphia's first road contest of the season. Turner and the 76ers are trying to avoid the worst start in team history since the 2001-02 squad kicked off the year 0-5. Lou Williams had 18 points, while Elton Brand, Jrue Holiday and Andre Iguodala each scored 12 points for the Sixers.

"It's the same old movie, bad stretches and it's not our defense, it's our offense," said Philadelphia head coach Doug Collins. "It's one thing about playing with passion and it's one thing about playing with emotion. Not one guy in that locker room has a winning record in the NBA. They asked me to turn things around and it's going to take time."

Washington will celebrate its home opener Tuesday and is off to the worst start since losing the first five games of the 2008-09 season.

Wall's 28 points and Al Thornton's 24 points weren't enough to lift the Wizards, who got 18 points from Andray Blatche. Washington did shoot 50 percent from the field in defeat.

"We shot 50 percent and held them to low 40's and that's pretty good," said Wizards head coach Flip Saunders. "They're one of the top teams in the league. We just have to clean some things up and we'll be right there."

Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas is still out because of a right ankle sprain and was suspended 50 games last season for a felony gun conviction.

Washington took all three meetings with Philadelphia last season after losing four matchups in 2008-09. The Sixers have lost two in a row and nine of 12 visits to the nation's capital.