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Iverson puts on a bloody good show

Battered guard helps 76ers even series at 2.

Compiled from Times wires

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 29, 2001

MILWAUKEE -- He took an elbow to the chops, a hip to the ribs, a knee to the belly. And still he kept coming.

He got a bloody mouth and a loosened tooth. And still he kept coming.

He kept his mouth shut tight so the referees wouldn't see him bleeding and make him leave the game. And when the blood built up, he just swallowed it. And still he kept coming.

Scoring 11 of his team's final 13 points, including seven in a row after he was elbowed in the mouth, Allen Iverson dominated the fourth quarter Monday as Philadelphia beat Milwaukee 89-83 to tie the Eastern Conference final at two games apiece.

"I didn't think the refs were going to let me back in the game because I was spitting up so much blood," Iverson said. "I was trying to stop the bleeding but it wouldn't stop, so I kept my mouth closed and swallowed the blood when it filled up."

Philadelphia also got key contributions from Dikembe Mutombo and Tyrone Hill, and shut down Milwaukee's offense over the final eight minutes.

Iverson, who sat out Game 3 with a sore left hip joint, missed 10 straight shots at one point and finished 10-for-32 from the field for 28 points. But he did enough in the fourth quarter to make his early shooting woes insignificant.

"As bad as my butt was hurting, I knew if I could suck that up I could suck this up," Iverson said of his early shooting woes.

Philly held the Bucks to one basket over a nearly seven-minute stretch of the fourth quarter.

Milwaukee fans booed their team as it left the court, frustrated by another display of the Bucks playing poorly when they had a chance to take control of a playoff series.

Philadelphia's victory ensured the NBA Finals will not start until June 6, meaning the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers will have 10 days rest before Game 1.

"All this game shows is that the two teams are pretty equal and it's going to be a great series," Bucks coach George Karl said.

Iverson played the entire game except for the final 16 seconds of the third quarter and had eight assists, five rebounds and two steals. Mutombo had 17 points, 15 rebounds and four blocks. Hill, whose father is seriously ill, added 14 points.

It was clear from the outset that Iverson had his quickness back. He showed off his speed on one of the key plays of the game, a drive around Glenn Robinson for a running bank shot with 3:06 left that gave the Sixers an 80-75 lead. Ray Allen missed a jumper on Milwaukee's next possession. Eric Snow's corner jumper increased the lead to 82-75 with 2:18 left.

Iverson was elbowed in the mouth by Allen on Milwaukee's next possession, staying on the ground as Ervin Johnson scored for a five-point lead.

Were the Bucks deliberately trying to hurt him?

"I don't think so," Iverson said. He paused, then added: "I hope not."

The Bucks had a chance to get closer, but they passed up two open shots and turned the ball over. Snow's steal led to a fast-break layup by Iverson for an 84-77 lead with 1:07 left.

Allen, harassed by Aaron McKie, scored 14 on 5-of-14 shooting. It was the second straight game McKie kept Allen under wraps after he scored 69 with Iverson guarding him in the first two games.

Robinson, who led the Bucks with 20 points, was ejected for drawing two technicals with 58 seconds left.

"It took a lot out of me," Iverson said. "Coming into the game I knew I'd feel bad after, but my heart feels good right now and that's what's important."

Philadelphia, which regained home-court advantage, hosts Game 5 on Wednesday.

"Series is over, guys," the 76ers' Hill said to no one in particular as he walked past Milwaukee reporters who used to cover him when he was with the Bucks.

Pressed later in the locker room, he backtracked: "I just said, "Series is even.' Let's keep it like that."

GAME 5: Milwaukee at Philadelphia, 9 p.m. Wednesday, Ch. 8.

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