Philadelphia, PA (My Sportsbook) - Lou Williams totaled 18 points, nine rebounds and six assists, helping the Sixers to a 97-94 win and sending the reeling Nets to their worst start in franchise history.

Andre Iguodala scored 16 points, including a key three-pointer late in the fourth, while also tying up New Jersey's Terrence Williams on an attempt at a game-tying three-ball at the buzzer.

Jason Kapono knocked down 4-of-6 from beyond the arc to finish with 14 points for the Sixers, who most recently lost to Boston on Tuesday.

Brook Lopez posted 22 points and 11 rebounds for the Nets, who began the season with six straight losses for the first time.

Veteran forward Trenton Hassell, thrust into a starting role with the Nets racked by injury, had 17 points and 12 rebounds while Rafer Alston scored 14 and handed out six assists.

New Jersey has been without star guard Devin Harris the last four games because of a strained groin. In addition, the club was without forward Yi Jianlian, out with a right MCL injury, and the flu-stricken Chris Douglas- Roberts.

After ending the third quarter up five, New Jersey continued to wield a hot hand early on in the fourth. But the three-ball helped the Sixers remain close as Rodney Carney delivered from downtown and Kapono sank a pair from long distance to keep it a two-possession game, 83-79, at the nine-minute mark.

Willie Green's pullup jumper tied it at 87 for Philadelphia a short time later and Lou Williams' layup with just under four minutes left gave the hosts a 90-88 edge.

The teams traded baskets and two free throws from Lopez again tied the game at 92 before Iguodala drained a three-pointer at the two-minute mark for a 95-92 edge.

"We played our tails off. It's disappointing. We were in a stretch there in the fourth quarter, defensively, where we were trading threes for twos," said Nets head coach Lawrence Frank. "We had some plays that we could have made down the stretch, but we came up a little short."

Alston got to the rim for two with the clock showing 50.8 for a 95-94 margin while Thaddeus Young was sent to the line on the other end, making one of two to make it 96-94 with 21.8 showing.

Eduardo Najera put in on the floor, muscling his way down toward the hoop before pulling up for a floater that banked off glass but found only rim. Iguodala secured the board and hit one of two at the line for a three-point game.

Terrence Williams was stripped of the ball while trying to hoist a game-tying three-pointer, sealing the Sixers' win.

"They played better than us and pushed us till the end and gave a really great effort. When you play like that, you'll have success in this league. That's one thing we can take from this game," said Iguodala speaking of New Jersey's effort minus a host of regulars.

Despite being severely shorthanded, the Nets owned a slim 20-18 edge after the opening 12 minutes. Things remained tight in the second, as Philadelphia opened up a six-point advantage on Jason Smith's jumper and a pair of Marreese Speights free throws only to see New Jersey score the next eight points.

A Lou Williams three-pointer gave the hosts a 50-47 halftime lead.

A solid third quarter, buoyed by a 12-4 run through the middle of the session, had the Nets out to a 73-68 advantage entering the fourth.

Game Notes

New Jersey swept the four-game season series with Philadelphia a year ago and had won two in a row and three of four trips to the Wachovia Center prior to Friday's defeat...The Sixers shot 50.0 percent from the field and made half of their 16 three-point attempts...New Jersey connected on 47.0 percent of its shots, but hit just 4-of-14 (28.6 percent) from three-point land...Speights finished with 10 points and Smith nine for the hosts...Bobby Simmons scored 10 and Najera nine for the Nets in defeat.