Ben Simmons scored 28 points (20 in the paint), and the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Charlotte Hornets 118-114 for their fifth straight win.
Jimmy Butler III’s pull-up 3-pointer put the 76ers ahead for good with 1:26 left in the fourth quarter.
James Ennis III’s corner 3-pointer with 18.6 seconds left made it 115-111, and Tobias Harris’ 2 free throws with 0.8 seconds left put it away at 118-114.
During clutch time, the 76ers outscored the Hornets 16-11. Butler scored 5 of the 76ers’ 16 on 2 for 5 shooting. Late in the fourth quarter, Butler had 4 of his 9 assists, 2 of them on baskets by Ennis and Harris that tied the game.
JJ Redick had 27 points (21 on 7 3-pointers), a season-high 10 rebounds and 8 assists. Butler added 23 points and a season-high 9 assists, and Harris had 22 points and 11 rebounds. The 76ers had 4 20-point scorers. Simmons and Redick set each other up for 7 baskets and 16 points, 2 of them in the fourth quarter.
For the Hornets, Jeremy Lamb had 26 points and 11 rebounds off the bench, and Kemba Walker added 21 points.
The 76ers shot 50.0% from the field and 34.4% from 3 to the Hornets’ 43.4% and 25.7%. The Hornets forced 7 turnovers, about 6 fewer than usual for this many possessions. They outscored the 76ers 61-14 off the bench. Mike Scott fouled out.