Meeks, making just his second career start, was 7-for-9 from the floor in the opening frame and 6-of-7 from the 3-point line, matching the floor record of Allen Iverson for points in a quarter. Julius Erving has the franchise record for first quarter scoring, netting 21 back in 1979.
The second year shooting guard out of Kentucky, who was acquired from Milwaukee along with Francisco Elson in exchange for Primoz Brezec, Royal Ivey and a second round pick in a trade deadline deal last season, finished the night hitting 9-of-16 from the field and 7-of-10 from long range. The seven threes tied Kyle Korver's floor record for most long range bombs by a Sixer in a game.
"It felt good," Meeks said of his breakout game. "The team did a good job of finding me open and I just kept letting it fly. After I hit my first one, I hit another one and I just kept making them. It felt good. "
Meeks' running mate in the backcourt, Jrue Holiday, added 15 points and seven assists and was 3-of-4 from long range for the Sixers, who won their fourth straight game on their home floor and bounced back from an ugly fourth quarter collapse in Atlanta last night.
Thaddeus Young netted 20 points of the bench for Philadelphia, while Elton Brand and Andre Iguodala also chipped in 15 points each with E.B. pulling down a game-high 10 rebounds and Iggy dishing out seven helpers.
Boris Diaw had a team-high 19 points for the Bobcats, who dropped their fifth straight on the road. Stephen contributed 18 points and D.J. Augustin had 12.
The Sixers led 32-16 after 12 minutes and continued to play front-runner throughout the half, which ended with the score, 56-45.
"Guys are unselfish and are looking for him when he is hot," Brand said of Meeks. "We have seen it numerous times at practice, hitting shot after shot from long range. I am glad, he is a young player and I am glad he is stepping up and playing well like he is."
A Holiday slam 2:38 into the third quarter pushed the margin to 63-47, and it stayed double-digits throughout the frame.
The fourth quarter began with Philadelphia leading 85-67, and the Bobcats were content to empty their bench rather than push for a comeback.
*Meeks previous career-high was 21 points something he accomplished three times, including Nov. 26 at Miami. His 20 points in the opening frame tied Lou Williams, who netted 20 in the 4th quarter against Washington on Nov.2, for the most points in a quarter by a Sixer this season.
"I am the type of guy that is unselfish," Meeks said. "Whatever I have to do to get the team started right. Tonight it was scoring and we got off to a big lead."
*Meeks has hit 14 3-pointers over the past five games and is shooting 47.7 percent from beyond the arc on the year.
*A moment of silence was observed before the game for longtime Sixers beat writer Phil Jasner, who lost his valiant battle with cancer on Friday.
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