Kwame Brown had a double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds and
Bobby Simmons hit for a game-high 19 points as the Washington Wizards
(1-2) won their first game of the 2003 Reebok Summer Pro League, 88-74
over the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday. Washington’s inside game keyed
the victory as they out rebounded Philadelphia 38-26.

The 76ers took a 3-2 lead at the 9:12 mark of the first quarter on a
three-pointer by Willie Green. It was their only lead of the game.
Washington went on a 20-8 run to take a 22-11 lead, keyed by a well
-balanced attack. Simmons, Brown and guards Juan Dixon and Steve Blake
each had four points during the 6:55 span and the Wizards never looked
back. In the second quarter, Brown went 3-for-3 from the floor and 3-for-4
from the line in the second quarter and Maurice Evans added eight as the
Wizards built their lead to 19, 49-30 at the break.

Philadelphia began to heat up in the second half as Sam Clancy and John
Salmons combined for 14 points in the third quarter to cut the deficit
to 67-54 entering the fourth quarter. The 76ers had a chance to get back
in the game as the Wizards managed to shoot just 6-for-16 (37.5 percent)
from the field in the fourth quarter, but Washington was able to get to
the foul line, converting 9-of-11 free throws to maintain a double-digit
lead the entire quarter.

Evans (14 points) and Dennis Marconato (10 rebounds) made key contributions
off the bench for the Wizards. Kyle Korver and Salmons (16 points each)
led four 76ers in double figures in the losing effort.

Written by: Mike Swartz