76ers 103, Timberwolves 94

PHILADELPHIA — Forward Luc Mbah a Moute scored 18 points and Michael Carter-Williams had 17 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists as the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 103-94 on Friday night.

It was the third triple-double of the season for Carter-Williams and the fifth of his career. He had fallen one rebound short in Wednesday night’s victory over Detroit.

Forward Robert Covington and center Nerlens Noel scored 14 points each for Philadelphia (10-37), which won its second straight home game for the first time since taking its first two last season. Noel also blocked six shots.

The victory ensured that the 2014-15 Sixers will not share a dubious place in the record book with the 1972-73 team, which went 9-73, the worst full-season record in NBA history.

Guard Kevin Martin had 19 points and center Nikola Peckovic added 18 to pace Minnesota (8-38), which has dropped six of its last seven. Forward Gorgui Dieng had 14 points and 10 rebounds.

The Sixers never trailed after assembling an 11-0 run bridging the third and fourth quarters, which wiped out a three-point deficit and gave them an 85-77 lead with 8:53 left. Backup forward Jerami Grant contributed five of his eight points during the flurry and reserve center Henry Sims had four of his six.

Minnesota twice crept within four points in the fourth quarter, the last time on a basket by forward Andrew Wiggins with 4:22 remaining, but the Sixers scored nine of the game’s last 13 points, including five by Carter-Williams.

Carter-Williams secured his triple-double when he rebounded a Wiggins miss in the closing seconds.

The teams parried through a free-wheeling first half that saw 13 lead changes, 11 ties and little defense. The Sixers shot 62.2 percent from the field, their best in any half this season, and the Timberwolves made 57.9 percent of their attempts.

Carter-Williams, who had eight points and eight assists in the half, put Philadelphia ahead 61-59 when he took an inbounds pass and streaked the length of the court for a layup at the second-quarter buzzer.

Peckovic led Minnesota with 16 points in the half, and Mbah a Moute had 12 points for Philadelphia. Noel made all five of his shots from the field and scored 10 points.

Both teams returned to earth in the third quarter, when the Sixers missed 16 of 22 shots from the floor and the Timberwolves went 5 of 17. Philadelphia still emerged with a 78-77 lead courtesy of Grant’s two free throws with 51.1 seconds left in the quarter.

NOTES: Minnesota F Thaddeus Young, who spent his first seven NBA seasons with the Sixers, played his first game in Philadelphia since he was traded to the Timberwolves in August. The Sixers left three framed copies of his jersey in the visiting locker room for him, something he called “a great gesture,” and he was accorded a warm ovation when he was introduced beforehand. “I gave my blood, sweat and tears — literally — to this franchise for seven years,” Young said, “so it’s definitely a great feeling to be well-received.” … Timberwolves G Ricky Rubio (sprained left ankle) missed his 41st straight game, and coach Flip Saunders said before the game Rubio will not play Saturday against Cleveland, either. Saunders did add that Rubio practiced Thursday, worked out Friday and is scheduled to work out before Saturday’s game as well. “I don’t know if he’ll go Monday (against Dallas),” Saunders said, “but we’re hoping sometime next week.” … Sixers G Jason Richardson, out since January 2013 with injuries to his left knee and right foot, told Calkins Newspapers before the game that he has been scrimmaging recently and reiterated that he hopes to return before the All-Star break. … Timberwolves G Mo Williams (hip soreness) missed his second straight game.