NBA

Balanced Sixers up 2-0

PHILADELPHIA -- Allen Iverson did not have to do all the scoring this time.

Iverson, coming off a 55-point performance in Game 1, scored 29 and Kenny Thomas had 17 points and 16 rebounds, leading the 76ers 90-85 over the Hornets on Wednesday night.

The Sixers lead 2-0 in the best-of-seven East quarterfinal. Game 3 is Saturday in New Orleans.

Derrick Coleman had 12 points and six assists and Keith Van Horn added 11 points for the Sixers. Thomas, Van Horn and Coleman, Philadelphia's starting frontcourt, had 11 points combined in Game 1. They got 40 this time.

"The guys knew what they had to do to get over the hump," Iverson said. "It makes it that much easier on me, takes more pressure off me and lets me concentrate on the defensive end."

New Orleans' Jamal Mashburn scored 14 but only one after dislocating his middle finger in the third.

The Hornets were without Baron Davis (knee), their second-leading scorer. Mashburn sat out the final 6:49. Despite the injuries, New Orleans trailed only 79-73 after Robert Traylor's jumper with 7:40 left.

But Iverson answered with a 15-footer and a long jumper that made it 83-73 with 4:25 remaining.

MAVERICKS 103, BLAZERS 99: Host Dallas overcame a career-high 45 points by Bonzi Wells by getting big plays from its big three to take a 2-0 series lead. Portland is 0-9 in the playoffs dating to 2000 and is halfway to getting swept for the fourth time in five years.

Steve Nash scored 11 of his 28 in the fourth, including a 3-pointer with 29.7 seconds left to break a 98-98 tie. Then Michael Finley soared for a rebound of a missed free throw by Wells on the other end, leading to two free throws by Nash with 14.5 seconds left. Dirk Nowitzki scored 25.

Portland's last gasp ended when Rasheed Wallace and Jeff McInnis missed hurried 3-pointers. Eduardo Najera got the rebound and dribbled out the clock.

WALLACE TOP DEFENDER: Detroit's Ben Wallace won the league's defensive player of the year award a second straight season. Wallace received 100 of 117 first-place votes from a panel of sports writers and broadcasters.

"It means a lot to me," Wallace said. "One thing that I pride myself on is playing defense. I guess this shows I'm doing a good job."

Indiana's Ron Artest, Minnesota's Kevin Garnett, San Antonio's Tim Duncan and Sacramento's Doug Christie rounded out the top five. The 6-foot-9, 240-pound Wallace averaged a league-best 15.4 rebounds. He averaged 3.15 blocked shots, second to Atlanta's Theo Ratliff (3.23).

JAZZ: DeShawn Stevenson was reinstated. He was suspended Sunday after arguing with coach Jerry Sloan. Stevenson was upset after playing one minute in Game 1.

KINGS: Chris Webber didn't practice, instead receiving treatment on the sore lower back muscles that kept him out of much of Game 2. He will be evaluated before Saturday's Game 3.

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