Kyle Korver hit a 21-foot jumper with 1:38 left in the game to break
a 79-79 tie and Efthimios Rentzias, Jeff Myers and John Salmons made
key free-throws down the stretch as the Philadelphia 76ers outlasted
the Boston Celtics 91-87 in the nightcap of Rivalry Friday at the Reebok
Pro Summer League. John Salmons scored 35 points, 23 of them in the
second half, to lead Philadelphia.

The 76ers (2-3) opened up a big lead with an 11-0 run near the end
the first half on a basket by Salmons, a basket and two free-throws
by Amal McCaskill and dunks by Sam Clancy and Randy Holcomb, turning
a 29-29 tie into a 40-29 lead. Marcus Banks’ jumper with 1.0 left
made it 40-31 at the half.

Boston (2-2) stormed right back early in the third quarter, going on
a 13-2 run of their own to tie the game. Rookie Brandon Hunter (22
points, 10 rebounds) hit a pair of shots and veteran Kedrick Brown
hit a three-pointer to make it 46-46, midway through the quarter.
The lead changed hands six times in the next six minutes, the final
one coming with 1:48 left in the quarter, when Myers hit a 20-foot
jumper to give Philadelphia a 56-55.

The 76ers opened the fourth quarter with a 9-2 run to take a 69-60
lead, but the Celtics came right back, going on a 15-6 run, led by
Kornel David’s 5 points, to tie the game, 75-75. But Boston could
never regain the lead. Hunter’s two free-throws tied the game again
at 79-79, but Korver’s jumper gave the 76ers the lead for good. A
driving lay-up by Salmons and a 21-footer by Rentzias with 31.1 seconds
left made it 85-80. J.R. Bremer hit a three-pointer to bring Boston
to within 2 with 21.7 seconds. Boston chose to foul the 76ers and make
them earn the win at the foul line. The 76ers did just that as Salmons
made three from the line and Rentzias and Myers added a pair as the
76ers held on for the win.

Brown, who is averaging 19.8 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, and
Hunter (averaging 16.8 points 8.8 rebounds) led the Celtics. Salmons
improved his average to 19.6 points per game with his offensive explosion.

Written by: Mike Swartz