Laron Profit scored 22 points and the Philadelphia 76ers withstood
a late rally by the New York Knicks to post a 75-70 win, in the finale
for both teams at the Reebok Pro Summer League. The 76ers (3-3) nearly
blew a 10-point fourth quarter lead, but made 4-of-6 free throws in
the game’s final 33.4 seconds to hold on to the win.

Philadelphia led 59-49 after three quarters, largely due to poor shooting
by the Knicks (2-4). New York shot just 36 percent through three quarters.
But the Knicks slowly started to chip away at the Philadelphia lead in the
fourth quarter. A pair of free throws by Matt Carroll, a driving lay-up by
Billy Keys, a three-pointer off a fast-break by Troy Ostler and a jumper
by Carroll brought the Knicks back to within 6, at 63-57 with 6:08 left in
the game. The teams traded baskets over the next few minutes and the 76ers
went back up by 6 points when Jeff Myers hit one of his two free throws.
Frank Williams then hit a lay-up to cut it to 72-68. The Knicks fouled
Profit who made one of his two free throws, and then got the ball to Williams
who made a lay-up to cut it to 73-70 with 13.9 seconds left. Again, the Knicks
had to foul, this time sending Myers to the line. Myers, who had 13 assists
in the game, calmly hit both free throws to ice the game.

The 76ers had broken open a close game in the second quarter. Tied at 29-29
with 3:42 left before the half, they went on a 9-2 run to close out the half,
on jump shots by Ron Rollerson and Efthimios Rentzias, a three-point play by
Profit, and a lay-up by Kyle Korver to take a 38-31 lead at halftime. A pair
of baskets by Rollerson to start the third quarter gave Philadelphia a double
-digit lead at 42-31. It put the Knicks in a hole from which they could not
come out, despite their late rally.

Rollerson scored 16 points for the 76ers and Ken Johnson chipped in with 13.
Carroll led the Knicks with 16 points off the bench.

Both teams now head to Salt Lake City, Utah where they will compete in the
Reebok Rocky Mountain Revue.

Written by: Mike Swartz