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MINNEAPOLIS - The Philadelphia 76ers were 16 seconds into their game against the Minnesota Timberwolves and Henry Sims was stepping to the free throw line when referee Zach Zarba blew his whistle and stopped the game.Turns out the Sixers were going in the wrong direction, just like they have been all season long. The foul was wiped away, the teams switched sides and the game was restarted and the Sixers got pointed the right way.The 76ers avoided tying the record for the worst start to a season in NBA history, ending their 0-17 skid with an 85-77 victory over the Timberwolves on Wednesday night.A loss to the Timberwolves would have tied the 2009-10 New Jersey Nets for the worst start to a season in league history at 0-18. Many of these Sixers, including point guard Michael Carter-Williams and coach Brett Brown, were part of the team that lost 26 straight games last season, which tied the record for consecutive losses.One-and-17 never felt so good.For me personally, I think its a big relief off my chest, Carter-Williams said. And the same is for the rest of the guys now that we got a win.Particularly the first one for a team with the youngest roster in league history.We feel like this validates the work theyve put in, Brown said. I just have a tremendous amount of respect for the fact that they never once quit on themselves, short-circuited a practice, and they were rewarded tonight.Carter-Williams had 20 points, nine rebounds and nine assists and Robert Covington added 17 points in a game between two of the worst teams in the league.The Sixers shot just 39 per cent against the poorest defence in the NBA, turned the ball over 19 times and scored only nine points in the second quarter.Gorgui Dieng had 15 points and 16 rebounds for the Timberwolves. But Minnesota shot just 35.7 per cent and turned the ball over 19 times to lose for the 11th time in 13 games.Thats what makes it bad, Wolves forward Corey Brewer said. They play that bad and we still lose? We have to look at ourselves, man. Its tough. We cant lose that game, period.The Sixers were missing leading scorer Tony Wroten and backup point guard Alexey Shved (hip), leaving them with one healthy point guard.But the Timberwolves were ripe for the taking without injured starters Ricky Rubio, Kevin Martin and Nikola Pekovic and playing their fourth game in six nights.The teams combined for 66 points, 55 missed shots and 25 turnovers in the first two quarters. The Sixers led by 10 points after the first quarter — their first double-digit, first-quarter lead of the season — and 12 in the second quarter before the Wolves got going.They closed the period on a 13-1 run to take a 34-32 lead into the break, but both teams spent most of the night clanking shots, fumbling passes and squandering opportunities.Carter-Williams hit 9 of 20 shots and Covington, a call-up from the D-League, hit two big 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to give the Sixers a 69-64 lead.Mo Williams capped an 11-2 spurt with a 3-pointer that gave the Wolves a 75-73 lead with 2:18 to play. But K.J. McDaniels, who air-balled his first two 3-pointers of the night, came right back with a 3 of his own and Covingtons third 3 of the quarter with 1:15 left sealed it.Congrats lil homies, Sixers great Allen Iverson tweeted. Keep fighting and stay strong.TIP-INS76ers: Brown improved to 20-80 in his first 100 games as coach, narrowly avoiding becoming just the fifth coach in NBA history to win fewer than 20 in his first 100. ... The Sixers missed their first 12 3-pointers. ... McDaniels finished with 12 points, nine rebounds and four blocks. ... The win snapped a string of 23 straight losses to Western Conference opponents.Timberwolves: Andrew Wiggins was chosen Western Conference rookie of the month for November. He had 11 points and five rebounds. ... The Wolves held the Sixers to nine points in the second quarter, the second-lowest number in franchise history. ... Anthony Bennett played just less than four minutes in the game, with coach Flip Saunders saying he was upset with Bennetts effort.PAYING HOMAGEThe Wolves honoured Harold Gifford during the second quarter. Gifford was the co-pilot on a flight in 1960 carrying the Minneapolis Lakers that had to make an emergency landing in a cornfield in Iowa. Gifford is credited with helping make a safe landing and saving the lives of everyone on board.UP NEXT76ers: Host Oklahoma City on Friday.Timberwolves: Host Houston on Friday. Boston Celtics Shirts . Some members of the U.S. Congress arent so sure. They say Russia isnt doing enough to assure that athletes will be protected at the Feb. 7-23 games, happening not far from an Islamic insurgency that Russias huge security apparatus has struggled for two decades to quell. Russia may run greater risks in towns outside the tightly controlled Olympic zone. Suicide bombs last month a few hundred kilometres (miles) away have increased concerns, and an Islamic warlord has urged his followers to attack the Sochi Olympics, Russian President Vladimir Putins pet project. Boston Celtics Pro Shop . David Perron had a career high four-point night with two goals and two assists as the Oilers experienced an offensive explosion, blasting the Columbus Blue Jackets 7-0 to record a rare home win for their second victory in a row. https://www.cheapceltics.com/ . The (11-11-4) Jets are seventh in the Central Division with 26 points. Fifth place Dallas and sixth-seeded Nashville also have 26 points, but the Stars have three games in hand on Winnipeg while Nashville has two. Custom Boston Celtics Jerseys . - Steve Stricker usually doesnt show up at a tournament on Sunday. Fake Celtics Jerseys . Unlike last year when nobody got in, there have been estimates of as many as five getting voted in this time around and as few as one, Greg Maddux. FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- New York Jets right guard Willie Colon needs knee surgery and is expected to be sidelined for about six weeks, but should be ready in time for training camp. Coach Rex Ryan announced Wednesday that Colon needs arthroscopic surgery after being injured during a recent workout before the start of organized team activities this week. "Safe to say, its going to be a while if hes going to come off a scope," Ryan said. But a person with knowledge of the situation who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team didnt announce details said Colon should "definitely" be able to participate on the field when training camp opens in late July. Oday Aboushi, a fifth-round pick last year out of Virginia as a tackle, worked at right guard with the starters at practice Tuesdday and Wednesday.dddddddddddd Ryan said Aboushi, who did not appear in any games last season, has looked good filling in for Colon. The Jets have several other guards on their depth chart, including Caleb Schlauderaff, Patrick Ford, Will Campbell, a sixth-rounder last year, and they drafted Dakota Dozier in the fourth round out of Furman earlier this month. The 31-year-old Colon was re-signed by the Jets in March to a one-year, $2 million deal. He started all 16 games last season, but was recovering from a torn right biceps suffered in the season finale. "He was really doing well on his rehab, but thats going to hold him back," Ryan said. "Well see how it goes, but were not going to throw him out there. Were not playing the Patriots anytime soon, so weve got to do whats best for him." ' ' '