NBA Saturday’s other games

December 14, 2008 at 12:00a.m.

Pistons 90, Bobcats 86

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Allen Iverson scored 20 points, Rasheed Wallace hit a 3-pointer with 10.4 seconds left to avoid an embarrassing collapse, and the Detroit Pistons held off the new-look Charlotte Bobcats. Taking advantage of the ragged debut by Charlotte newcomers Boris Diaw and Raja Bell, the Pistons led by 29 points in the third quarter and by 24 with 9 minutes left. The Pistons then nearly imploded, allowing a group of mostly Bobcats reserves to go on a 17-0 run to get within 85-84 on Raymond Felton’s layup with 34 seconds left. Wallace responded with a straightaway 3 — the Pistons’ first points in nearly 7 minutes — and put a finger to his lips to quiet the crowd.

76ers 104, Wizards 89

PHILADELPHIA — Elton Brand scored a season-high 27 points, leading the Philadelphia 76ers over the struggling Washington Wizards in Tony DiLeo’s coaching debut. Lou Williams added 15 points, Thaddeus Young and Andre Iguodala each had 14, and Willie Green scored 13 for the Sixers, who snapped a three-game losing streak and improved to 10-14. Maurice Cheeks didn’t receive that type of balance on a consistent basis and was subsequently fired Saturday as coach of the Sixers, who were slumping badly a season after making the playoffs. DiLeo, the team’s assistant general manager, was appointed coach for rest of the season.

Associated Press