NBA

Iverson's league-high 60 pace drubbing of Magic

By wire services
Published February 13, 2005

PHILADELPHIA - Allen Iverson has accomplished virtually everything in his nine-year NBA career, but there are always new plateaus to reach. On Saturday night, he hit the summit of Mount 60.

The 6-foot guard became the smallest player in NBA history to score 60 points in a game as the 76ers beat the Magic, 112-99. Iverson's 60 eclipsed his career high of 58, set Jan. 15, 2002, in an overtime win against Houston.

Iverson, the NBA scoring leader with a 29.7 average, shot 17 for 36 from the field, 24 of 27 from the foul line and 2 of 5 from three-point range. It was the ninth time in his career he has scored 50 or more points in a regular-season game. He also scored 50 or more points in three postseason games.

"It feels good right now just that we won the basketball game and I scored a career high," Iverson said. "That's how it is drawn up in a dream."

It was the first 60-point game in the NBA since Tracy McGrady scored 62 for Orlando against Washington on March 10, 2004. Iverson also had the fourth-highest total in 76ers' history, behind only Wilt Chamberlain's 68 points in 1967 against Chicago. The Bulls' Michael Jordan holds the scoring record against the Magic with 64 on Jan. 16, 1993.

Iverson scored 29 in the first half, banging and crashing all over the court. After Orlando went on a mini-run in the third quarter that cut a 25-point deficit to 11, Iverson hit a 3-pointer from the right side as time expired to reach 40. Then Iverson earned a standing ovation for points 50 and 51.

PISTONS 107, WIZARDS 86: Chauncey Billups scored 21 and Richard Hamilton finished with 20 points and eight assists for host Detroit. All Detroit's starters scored in double figures as the Pistons picked up their second lopsided victory in three games.

BUCKS 113, HAWKS 83:Desmond Mason scored 23 points and and Mike James added 18 to help the Bucks win for the third straight time and hand the Hawks their 14th straight road loss. Redd saw his 212-game playing streak end when he sat out because of a sprained left index finger.

[Last modified February 13, 2005, 01:08:17]