NBA: Philadelphia 104, Washington 89

PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 13 (UPI) -- Elton Brand's 27 points with nine rebounds Saturday led the Philadelphia 76ers to a 104-89 win over Washington in the coaching debut of Tony DiLeo.

General Manager Ed Stefanski announced the firing of Mo Cheeks earlier in the day following a disappointing 9-14 start.

DiLeo has served in the Sixers' front office for almost two decades and has coached professionally in what used to be West Germany.

Brand scored eight points in the first quarter, helping the 76ers to a 25-20 advantage after the opening 12 minutes. A12-0 run late in the second period made it 51-40 at the break.

Philadelphia scored the first six points of the second half and their advantage swelled to 79-65 headed into the fourth.

Lou Williams scored 17 points, Thaddeus Young 14, and Andre Miller added eight points and 12 assists for the 76ers, who snapped a three-game losing streak.

Antawn Jamison had 17 points and nine rebounds for the Wizards, losers of five of six.