PHILADELPHIA -- The Clippers’ flight to Charlotte late Friday night likely was energized primarily because Chris Paul hit a fadeaway jumper with 3.9 seconds remaining to clinch a 78-77 win over the 76ers.

But the shot wouldn’t have been possible if not for the sought-after competitiveness the Clippers displayed following an embarrassing loss that resulted in a busy off day.

After Wednesday’s loss in Cleveland, coach Vinny Del Negro admonished his team for not competing hard enough. It was an emphasis during Thursday's practice at the Sixers’ practice facility, which included a lengthy film session. The first point Del Negro made after tonight's win was that the team competed, as promised.

“We played so poorly against Cleveland, and we got good character guys, we had a great film session and guys took ownership in that,” Del Negro said. “It wasn’t pretty tonight, but we battled. And that’s the thing. The outcome’s the outcome, but if you don’t compete, you’re not giving yourself the opportunity. We competed tonight.”

The team’s hustler -- veteran forward Reggie Evans -- personified the win so much so that Paul said Evans earned the game ball despite Paul’s winning shot. Evans did not score a point, but he recorded 10 rebounds -- including five on the offensive glass -- and made the little plays that the Clippers needed to recover from Wednesday.

The best example came during a fourth-quarter sequence when the Clippers had five cracks at scoring because of four consecutive offensive rebounds, two of which were from Evans. Their defense forced a critical five-second violation on a Sixers inbounds play, and they suffocated Sixers guard Lou Williams on the game’s final possession to stymie Philadelphia’s attempt at a buzzer-beater.

“As a team, we didn’t have no effort [against Cleveland], we didn’t have no energy. I don’t know if it was the fact knowing Chauncey [Billups] was gone,” Evans said. “Sometimes, it takes stuff like that, adversity. It’s all about how you wake up the next day and bounce back.”

Early in the game, though, it appeared the Clippers might fall victim to the same lackluster problems that plagued them Wednesday. They trailed by nine points at the end of the first quarter before cutting the deficit to two at halftime. The Clippers struggled from the field throughout the game -- they shot only 39 percent overall and 11 percent from the perimeter -- yet continued to make enough defensive stops to keep it close. And when the Sixers held a one-point lead with 18 seconds remaining, the Clippers still possessed time to clinch the win.

Paul, who said he savors clutch opportunities, actually surrendered the chance to be the hero when he first claimed possession. Paul passed to Blake Griffin, who couldn’t grip the pass and needed to chase the loose ball. The Clippers were able to reset, and that’s when Paul created separation against Sixers All-Star swingman Andre Iguodala to hoist the 16-footer for the win.

“That could have been really, really ugly,” Paul said. “Even though I made the shot, I’m still thinking to myself, what was I thinking?”

The challenge for the Clippers is now finding a way to do it again Saturday night against the Bobcats. If Thursday's practice and film session were beneficial to the team, they don’t have the luxury for the second end of the back-to-back.

Center DeAndre Jordan says he wasn’t worried because the Clippers have young legs, and Evans added that the message from Thursday was clear. Four games into a six-game road trip, they need to compete the way they did Friday night -- not the way they played on Wednesday -- to enjoy the late-night flights to the next destination.

“We got to fly to Charlotte tonight, and the flight’s always easier when you win,” Paul said. “It’s good to be able to enjoy this flight instead of everybody crying.”