Pitt continues spell-binding ways, downs North Carolina
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Jamarius Burton made the gamewinning foul shots with three seconds left, Nike Sibande recorded a late block and Pittsburgh continued its recent bedevilment of North Carolina, beating the Tar Heels 65-64 on Wednesday night.
The Panthers (16-7, 9-3 ACC) now have won three straight against North Carolina — including three straight at the Smith Center — and five of the last six meetings over the last four seasons.
After Burton's free throws, North Carolina pushed it to the front court and called timeout with 0.6 seconds left before Sibande came up with a block of Caleb Love as time expired.
Nelly Cummings scored 21 points on 8-for-11 shooting for Pitt before fouling out with 1:47 left. Burton scored 19 and Sibande 10.
Love scored 22 points for North Carolina (157, 7-4), Armando Bacot scored 15 points and grabbed 11 rebounds and Pete Nance scored
13. Bacot made just 3 of 10 shot attempts while going 9 for 15 from the foul line.
North Carolina used a 13-2 run in early in the second half to take a 46-40 lead with 12:50 left. The Panthers countered with their own 13-2 outburst and for a 53-48 lead five minutes later.
Pitt will take a break from action and return to the court when it hosts Louisville on Feb.
7. North Carolina visits Duke on Saturday.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — James Harden refused to stump for an all All-star bid. After another standout game in a Philadelphia 76ers win in which he fell one rebound shy of a tripledouble, Harden can let his statistics sell his candidacy.
Joel Embiid had 28 points and 11 rebounds, Harden added 26 points and 10 assists and the 76ers beat the Orlando Magic 105-94 on Wednesday night.
The NBA will reveal, on Thursday, the 14 players — seven from the Eastern Conference, seven more from the Western Conference — who got picked to be reserves for the All-star Game. The reserves are selected by coaches voting for players in their conference. Embiid figures to be among those selected. Harden might be left out because of a crowded group of stars in the East.
“If my name is called, great,” Harden said. “If not, bigger and better goals for the season.”
The Sixers split the home-and-home set this week with Orlando. The Magic stormed back from a 21-point, first-quarter deficit to beat the 76ers 119-109 on Monday night. That loss ended the 76ers' seven-game winning streak.
But, despite uneven moments against a young, rising Magic team, the Sixers steadied themselves late and improved to 20-8 at home.
“I didn't think we played great,” coach Doc Rivers said. “But we played good enough to win. We'll take that.”
Embiid, the NBA scoring