Recap: Washington vs. Philadelphia

Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Jrue Holiday netted 22 points to lead five Philadelphia players in double figures as the 76ers defeated the Washington Wizards, 97-86, on Friday night at the Verizon Center.

"Defensively the last three games haven't been very good," said Wizards coach Randy Wittman. "We have to find a way to close out the fourth quarter and we didn't do that tonight."

Thaddeus Young tallied 18 points, 13 rebounds and four steals for Philadelphia, which snapped a three-game losing skid with the win.

Spencer Hawes and Damien Wilkins scored 15 points apiece while recently signed Justin Holiday, older brother of Jrue, dropped a career-best seven points in 20 minutes of action. The 76ers were eliminated from playoff contention earlier in the week.

"I think whether it's a conscious thing or a subconscious thing, when you officially get eliminated, it kind of hits you," said Hawes. "It takes some of the wind out of your sails, but then you regroup and refocus and try to take out of it whatever you can the last however-many games."

John Wall supplied a game-high 24 points for Washington but was the lone starter to reach double figures. Trevor Booker and Kevin Sepraphin each had 10 points off the bench.

Philly takes the season series, 2-1.

Washington led 31-24 after the first quarter behind 13 points by Wall on 6- of-7 from the floor. Washington shot 61.9 percent as a team while holding the Sixers to just 40 percent and 1-of-8 from 3-point range.

Midway through the second period, Booker drilled three straight mid-ragne jumpers for a personal 6-0 run to give the Wizards their largest lead of the game at 41-28.

Philly managed to cut into the deficit and went into halftime trailing by just one at 49-48. Jrue Holiday's running layup with 3.9 ticks remaining before intermission capped an 8-1 Sixers surge.

With the game tied at 59-59, Hawes and Holiday scored eight straight points for Philly, which took advantage of poor Wizards shooting and ball control late in the period. The Sixers led by nine at the end of the third and held at least a seven point edge for the duration of the contest.