Williams' three lifts Nets in overtime

PHILADELPHIA -- Deron Williams had a reason to love this one.

Williams scored 34 points, including a go-ahead three-pointer with 26.8 seconds left in overtime, to help lift the Nets to a 97-90 victory over the 76ers Wednesday night.

Kris Humphries had 13 points and a season-high 19 rebounds, and Jordan Farmar added 12 points as the Nets (6-13) snapped an eight-game losing streak against the Sixers. The Nets' Anthony Morrow had 16 points starting his second straight game for rookie MarShon Brooks (sore right Achilles tendon).

"Our new team motto is 'I love it,' " Williams said. "It started off sarcastic, but now we use it for everything. I had five turnovers, but I love it."

Beating the first-place Sixers put Williams and his teammates in a festive mood.

"I love it," several Nets shouted in the locker room.

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 backup rookie Nik Vucevic (left knee quad strain).

Jrue Holiday stole Farmar's inbounds 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 other end, Williams hit a long three. Lou Williams missed a three for the Sixers and Morrow made a pair of free throws to seal it.

"At the end of the game, we basically put the ball in Deron's hands and said, 'Take us home,' and he did," Nets coach Avery Johnson said.

Jeered vociferously by the crowd, Humphries had one of his best all-around games. He has been booed wherever the Nets play since his marriage to reality TV star Kim Kardashian ended after 72 days. "It's motivation, man," Humphries said.

Holiday hit a three-pointer from the left corner to give the 76ers a 78-77 lead with 2:29 left. Morrow hit a three 1:20 later to put the Nets up 80-78. Elton Brand answered with a short jumper to tie it at 80. Farmar missed at the other end, and Thaddeus Young made a diving save to gather the rebound.

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 with 1.3 seconds to go to send it to overtime.

Despite this loss, the Sixers seem headed toward their first winning season since 2004-05.

"They outplayed us in every phase," coach Doug Collins said.