Sixers 81, Hornets 76PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia 76ers did it with defense in Game 3, from Aaron McKie shutting down Eddie Jones to Theo Ratliff blocking shots to George Lynch and Toni Kukoc holding Anthony Mason without a basket.
It was a total team effort on a night when the Sixers needed a lift from Allen Iverson's sidekicks, and they all provided it -- holding the Hornets to one field goal over the first 111/2 minutes of the fourth quarter in an 81-76 victory Friday night.
The 76ers took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series, with Game 4 set for Monday night in Philadelphia.
And if the 76ers are able to close out the series in that game, they can point at four or five players who all stepped up when their best defensive player, Eric Snow, sat out with an injury.
Iverson scored 24 points, McKie and Kukoc added 12 each and Ratliff had 10 points, 11 rebounds and six blocks.
Jones had 18 for Charlotte.