BOX SCORE
CHARLOTTE, N.C.The Bobcats had nothing to lose other than their 25th game of the season in 28 tries.
They were playing without their starting backcourt of D.J. Austin and Gerald Henderson, who combine to average 28 points per game. They played hard and hung around for 48 minutes.
The Sixers, who shot 43 percent from the floor, outlasted the Bobcats by a score of 98-89, improving to 20-9 on the season.
The Sixers committed just seven turnovers.
Spencer Hawes is not on this three-game road trip with Monday night marking the 15th game this season he was sidelined because of injury. The team is cautiously optimistic he will be back in the starting lineup Friday when the Sixers host the Mavericks.
Turning point
At the 3:51 mark of the third quarter, the Sixers forced Charlotte into its ninth turnover, but miscommunication between Lou Williams and Andre Iguodala resulted in a Corey Maggette steal followed by a three-point play. The basket again cut into the Sixers once 15-point lead and made it just six.
NBA
The Sixers led 71-67 after three quarters, shooting 6 of 20 in the third frame. That set the table for a close encounter in the fourth.
Follow the leader
Jrue Holiday scored the Sixers first eight points and later added a three-pointer for 11 of the teams 28 points in the first quarter. He was a perfect 5 for 5 in the period. Holiday was 2 of 9 the rest of the way, finishing with 19 points.
Williams led the Sixers with 23 points, while Thaddeus Young was 6 for 9 from the field and 8 of 9 at the foul line for 20 points.
Nik Vucevic tied his career high with 10 rebounds.
Charlotte had four guys in double-figure scoring, including 21 for rookie Kemba Walker.
Stat-egic
Iguodala was held scoreless in the first half before finishing with three points. It was his ninth single-digit scoring game this season and his 10th time attempting less than 10 shots (six).
He did make the first basket of the second half, a 19 foot jump shot off the opening tip and finished with a team-high nine assists.
The Sixers did have three players in double figures after two quartersHoliday (15) Williams (12) and Young (11).
Take a bow
Corey Maggette was playing in just his ninth game of the season and his third in a row after being sidelined for 19 games because of a strained hamstring. He is averaging 11 points a game, but scored a season- high 22 for a team that came in averaging 86 points, the fewest in the NBA.
The 12-year veteran averages 16 points per game for his career with his high being 39.
Whats next?
The Sixers will practice in Orlando Tuesday before playing the Magic on the road Wednesday.
In a meeting on Jan. 30 in Philadelphi,a the Sixers won a defensive struggle 74-69 over the Magic. Iguodala had 14 points, 11 rebounds and six assists. Evan Turner had 12 points off the bench.
Dwight Howard was kept in check, scoring 17 points on 6-for-17 shooting and grabbing 11 rebounds. Ryan Anderson scored 14 points and grabbed a career-high 20 rebounds. Jameer Nelson did not play that game because of concussion-like symptoms.
That loss was the fourth straight for the Magic at the time.
E-mail Dei Lynam at dlynam@comcastsportsnet.com.