Grant’s Free Throws Lift Bullets Over 76ers, 102-99

Harvey Grant made three free throws in the final 1:04 to give Washington a 102-99 victory Saturday night over the Philadelphia 76ers, the Bullets’ first at Capital Centre since Feb. 7.

Charles Barkley’s 3-point shot at the buzzer was off the mark, and Washington escaped with its first victory in four meetings this season with Philadelphia. A victory would have put the 76ers in the playoffs.

Pervis Ellison led Washington with 24 points. Ledell Eackles added 16 points and Grant 15.

Hersey Hawkins had 21 points to lead the 76ers. Barkley had 18, but only two in the fourth quarter. Ron Anderson and Rick Mahorn added 17 points apiece.

The Bullets had not won at the Capital Centre since the All-Star break. They now have won three of 10 home games since the break, the other two at the Baltimore Arena.

Philadelphia shot .667 in the first half, opening a 64-50 lead. But the 76ers cooled off in the third period, making only seven of 21 shots, allowing the Bullets to cut the margin to 82-79.

Washington took its first lead since the opening quarter when rookie Greg Foster put a jumper over Manute Bol that made it 89-87 with 7:33 remaining.

Washington committed three fouls in the next 61 seconds, and the Sixers scored five points from the line to go in front 92-89. Hawkins’ 3-pointer with 5:15 left put Philadelphia in front 95-91.

Haywoode Workman’s jumper tied it at 97 with 2:37 left, then Barkley and Grant traded baskets. Barkley missed a pair of free throws with 1:42 left, but Ellison did the same at 1:25.

Neither team made a basket in the final minute, the 76ers missing four and and the Bullets their only shot. Prior to Barkley’s last-second try, the 76ers had two good shots in the last 10 seconds.

Grant rebounded the second miss and was fouled. He missed his first free throw, but made the next with a half-second left to provide the final margin.

Bernard King, in his second game back after missing four with a bad back, scored 12 points for Washington, but was only two of 11 from the field.