Sports

NBA

Sixers are bound for the playoffs

Associated Press
Published April 19, 2005

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PHILADELPHIA - Allen Iverson helped put the 76ers back in the playoffs and a date with their former coach could be next.

Iverson had 39 points and 12 assists and Kyle Korver scored 19 to lead the 76ers into the postseason for the first time in two years with a 122-106 victory over Milwaukee on Monday night.

"I feel like myself and my teammates, we are a playoff team," Iverson said. "We believed that all year. We believed in each other. We stuck with each other in good times and bad times and we never pointed fingers at each other."

Playoff fever hasn't exactly gripped the city. Competing with a Mets-Phillies game across the street, there were plenty of empty pockets in the lower level and upper deck of the Wachovia Center. Maybe the possible return of former coach Larry Brown - with whom Iverson famously feuded - will the give the Sixers an edge on the city's sports scene.

The Sixers would play second seed Detroit, the defending champ, if the standings remain the same.

The Sixers blew a chance to clinch a playoff spot the day before by losing in New Jersey, but they didn't waste this opportunity. They raced to a 22-point lead and won for the seventh time in nine games and 10th in the last 15 - a fantastic finish for a team that seemed headed toward the lottery about six weeks ago.

Philadelphia can finish sixth, seventh or eighth in the Eastern Conference depending on how fading Cleveland and streaking New Jersey fare in their final two games. If Chicago beats Indiana on Wednesday and the Sixers beat Atlanta, Philadelphia would earn the No.6 seed.

Chris Webber had 18 points and Andre Iguodala added 15 for the Sixers. Not even 21 points and 20 rebounds from Dan Gadzuric could help the Bucks. Desmond Mason scored 22.

After finishing 33-49 and out of the playoffs for the first time since 1997-98, the Sixers hired coach Jim O'Brien, got outstanding seasons from their young nucleus of Korver, Samuel Dalembert and Iguodola and traded for Webber in February.

They also got a healthy, happy Iverson. While Steve Nash and Shaquille O'Neal will probably garner most MVP votes, Iverson has certainly made a case with one of the best seasons of his nine-year career.

The Sixers led 70-50 at halftime, the most points scored in a half by the Sixers this season. They shot 58 percent in the half - with Iverson going 9-for-17 - and made six of his 13 3-pointers.

Iverson came in averaging a league-best 30.8 points and will join Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan and George Gervin as the only players with four scoring titles.

MAGIC 92, PACERS 88: Steve Francis scored 24, including a jumper with 10 seconds left for host Orlando, which ended a seven-game losing streak.

JAZZ 92, KINGS 82: Matt Harpring had 24 points and 13 rebounds for Utah. It was the Jazz's first home victory over Sacramento in five years.

ROCKETS 115, CLIPPERS 90: Yao Ming scored 24 and Tracy McGrady added 16 points and 10 assists to lead host Houston to its sixth straight win. The victory gave Houston its sixth 50-win season and the first since 1996-97.

SUNS 128, NUGGETS 114: Host Phoenix, which clinched homecourt throughout the playoffs early in the game with San Antonio's loss, went on to cruise past Denver. Joe Johnson scored 18 of his 26 in a 44-point first quarter in which the Suns shot 71 percent (17-for-24) to take a 19-point lead. The Nuggets didn't get closer than 12 points again.

GRIZZLIES 94, SPURS 92: Mike Miller scored 28, including a 22-footer at the buzzer, for host Memphis.

WOLVES 102, HORNETS 99: Wally Szczerbiak scored 11 of his 18 in the fourth quarter for visiting Minnesota. Sam Cassell scored 16 and Kevin Garnett had 14 as Minnesota handed New Orleans its eighth straight loss, one that guaranteed the Hornets (18-63) could do no better than tie the franchise's all-time worst record.

WARRIORS 126, LAKERS 99: Mickael Pietrus scored 25 and Baron Davis had 24 to lead six players in double figures for host Golden State.

Around the league

KINGS: Forward Peja Stojakovic missed the game at Utah with a strained groin.

LAKERS: Center Vlade Divac was suspended for the final two games of the season for elbowing Mavericks center Shawn Bradley. Divac floored Bradley with an elbow to the jaw with 9:47 left in the fourth quarter of Sunday's 114-112 Mavericks victory. No foul was called. ... Forward Caron Butler returned to southern California after his 1-year-old daughter, Mia, had an asthma attack. He missed the game against Golden State.

NUGGETS: Marcus Camby was placed on the injured list with a strained right hamstring, and guard Vashon Lenard was activated.

PACERS: Guard Anthony Johnson was suspended a game for throwing a punch at the Heat's Alonzo Mourning.

[Last modified April 19, 2005, 01:20:12]

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