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Sixers end slump by knocking off Nets

There have been few reasons for levity in the 76ers locker room lately, so after they ended a five-game losing streak by beating the Brooklyn Nets, Dorell Wright couldn't resist the opening that Spencer Hawes gave him.

There have been few reasons for levity in the 76ers locker room lately, so after they ended a five-game losing streak by beating the Brooklyn Nets, Dorell Wright couldn't resist the opening that Spencer Hawes gave him.

"Shout out to that shirt!" Wright, a few locker stalls down from Hawes, said jokingly to his teammate. Hawes wore a red, white and blue shirt that was the subject of kidding from his teammates, but he could afford to smile Monday night.

The center went for 24 points, a season high, and pulled down 10 rebounds in a 106-97 win at the Wells Fargo Center.

Hawes also collected seven assists and two of the Sixers' four blocks - the other two went to Damien Wilkins.

Thaddeus Young (16 points, 10 rebounds) and Jrue Holiday (15 points, 11 assists) recorded their 17th double-doubles of the season. It marked the first time in this desultory season that three Sixers notched double-doubles in the same game.

In winning for just the second time in their last 14 games, the Sixers had the type of game they have been longing for on most nights. They shot the ball well (making 52.6 percent of their field goals), and sank 8 of 15 shots from behind the three-point line. They had 31 assists and they turned the ball over just seven times.

They received good contributions from guys like Wilkins (13 points on 5-of-8 shooting) and Wright (15 points on 6-of-10 shooting). They built a 14-point lead in the third quarter.

The Nets were led by Deron Williams in points (27) and assists (13). But when they made a push - they cut the lead to 91-87 with almost eight minutes left in the game - the Sixers pushed back, never letting them get any closer than that the rest of the way.

"We battled," Sixers coach Doug Collins said. "This was a great win for our team against a Brooklyn team that has been playing really, really good basketball."

Nets center Brook Lopez finished with 19 points and six rebounds. On this night, Hawes outplayed him.

The Sixers scored 100 points for only the third time in the last 19 games. And it was just the third time in the last 24 games that they scored more than 100 points in a victory.

Even with the win, the Sixers are still nine games out of the final Eastern Conference playoff spot.

"It's tough," Wilkins said, "but this is when your manhood, so to speak, and your pride have to kick in. You have to want to win for the guy next to you and at the least for yourself. It's hard walking around town right now because these fans are honest. They deserve a good team and a good effort."