Philadelphia 76ers
Sixers' McConnell calls out Hornets' Batum for failing to 'back up' guarantee of win
Philadelphia 76ers

Sixers' McConnell calls out Hornets' Batum for failing to 'back up' guarantee of win

Published Feb. 14, 2017 9:48 a.m. ET

On Monday night, the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Charlotte Hornets 105-99 on Charlotte's home court, a contest between two non-playoffs teams (based on current standings) now that the slumping Hornets have lost 10 of their last 11 games.

On the other side, it appears the process-trusting Sixers found some extra spring thanks to Hornets guard Nicolas Batum, who, after a loss on Saturday, guaranteed the team would beat Philadelphia.

"Everybody pays attention to that stuff," said 76ers and former Hornets guard Gerald Henderson who texted his teammates about the guarantee."It's not the first guarantee that has ever been issued, but I thought it was something some guys on our team would look at and use it in the game."

“We don’t mean any disrespect but you aren’t going to overlook us. We are not a guaranteed victory for the other team. If you guarantee stuff, you better back it up. We are a damn good team and we just got to keep fighting.”

"It worked three times — just not this time," Batum told the Charlotte Observer. "I don't know why people are getting freaked out. ... I don't know why people are getting mad about it. The question was like 'Are you going to win the next game?' I wasn't going to say we were going to lose the next game. ... I won't stop believing in my teammates."

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