BOX SCORE
When healthy, New Orleans guard Eric Gordon is a big-time NBA scorer. The Sixers knew that going into Tuesdays game against the Hornets.
The Hornets star was playing just his eighth game of the season, returning from a knee injury. In his time back Gordon has helped the team get five wins while averaging 16.6 points per game.
The Sixers allowed Gordon to score 19 and Greivis Vasquez to add a team-high 23 in a 111-99 loss to the Hornets. The Sixers record dropped to 16-23 with the defeat.
The Sixers made things interesting in the fourth quarter thanks to the sharp shooting of Nick Young, who closed a oncer 20-point deficit to eight.
However, the lack of defense was too much for the Sixers to overcome. New Orleans shot 53 percent for the game, 55.6 percent from behind the arc.
Turning pointThe Sixers trailed by six at the half and then proceeded to give New Orleans a second 30-plus point quarter when they were outscored 33-21 in the third quarter. The Hornets shot 58 percent in those 12 minutes, including 4 of 5 from three.
Follow the leaderVasquez and Gordon combined to shoot 17 of 31 for 42 points. They also made five of the teams 10 three-pointers.
No. 1 overall pick Anthony Davis had 10 points and seven rebounds.
Jrue Holiday had a double-double less than a minute into the second half when he dished out his 10th assist. He finished with 29 points and 11 assists.
Thaddeus Young had 12 points and six rebounds, while Evan Turner scored 14 points.
Stat-egicThe Sixers shot 50 percent from the floor in the first quarter, including 6 for 8 from three. Yet, they still trailed by seven at quarters end.
Thats because the Hornets shot 76.2 percent from the floor, a season high allowed by the Sixers this season.
Take a bowNick Young did not play Saturday in the win over Houston and that continued in the first three quarters against the Hornets.
With the Sixers trailing by 18 heading into the fourth quarter, Young got his number called. He scored a quick nine points and got the crowd yelling his nickname Swaggy P before finishing with 14 points in 12 minutes on 6-for-9 shooting.
Whats next?The Sixers will have two days off before facing Toronto on Friday night. The Sixers have beaten the Raptors in two of the three meetings this season. However, the Raptors won the most-recent matchup when they held the Sixers to a season-low 72 points.
E-mail Dei Lynam at dlynam@comcastsportsnet.com.