Records meant little in South Philly Wednesday night as the last-place Nets beat the first-place Sixers 97-90 in overtime.
Deron Williams scored 34 points, including a go-ahead 3-pointer with 26.8 seconds left in overtime, to help lift the Nets to victory.
Kris Humphries had 13 points and a season-high 19 rebounds, and Jordan Farmer added 12 points for the Nets (6-13). Anthony Morrow had 16 points starting his second straight game for rookie MarShon Brooks (sore right Achilles tendon).
Lou Williams led Philadelphia with 17 points. The Atlantic Division-leading Sixers (12-6) again played without starting center Spencer Hawes (left Achilles strain) and his backup, rookie Nik Vucevic (left knee quad strain) opening up the door for Humphries big night.
Jeered vociferously by the crowd, Humphries had one of his best all-around games. Humphries has been booed wherever the Nets play since his marriage to reality TV star Kim Kardashian ended after 72 days.
Jrue Holiday stole Farmer's inbound pass and scored on a driving layup to give the Sixers a 90-88 lead with 1:18 left in OT. But Deron Williams answered with a jumper to tie it. After Jodie Meeks missed at the opposite end, Williams nailed a long 3. Lou Williams missed a 3 for the Sixers and Morrow sank a pair of free throws to seal it.
Holiday hit a 3-pointer from the left corner to give the Sixers a 78-77 lead with 2:29 left. Neither team made a basket over the next 1:20 until Morrow hit a 3 to put the Nets up 80-78. Elton Brand answered with a short jumper to tie it at 80. Farmer missed at the other end and Young made a diving save to gather the rebound.
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After the timeout, Lou Williams nailed an 18-footer over Deron Williams to put the Sixers up 82-80. But Deron Williams tied it with a slashing layup through three defenders with 1.3 to go to send it to overtime.
The Sixers have come a long way under second-year coach Doug Collins. Last season, they started 3-13 before a strong finish put them at 41-41 and sent them to the playoffs only to lose to Miami in five games.
Despite this loss, they seem headed toward their first winning season since 2004-05 when Allen Iverson was the star.
The Sixers will look to get back on the winning track when they host Charlotte Friday night.
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