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Compiled from Times wires
© St. Petersburg Times, published December 14, 2000
Iverson lifts Sixers with 25
WASHINGTON -- Allen Iverson scored 25 to lead five scorers in double figures as Philadelphia beat Washington 102-82 on Wednesday night.
Iverson scored 13 in the first half and has scored 20 or more in nine consecutive games after being held to a career-low seven against Charlotte on Nov. 24.
Washington, which lost its eighth in a row, cut a 13-point deficit to 51-48 with 7:29 to play in the third quarter. Philadelphia responded with a 16-2 run in the next four minutes to put the game away.
SUNS 103, SPURS 93: Shawn Marion had 17 points and 16 rebounds and host Phoenix never trailed.
Before the game, San Antonio activated forward Samaki Walker and placed center Shawnelle Scott on the injured list.
PACERS 97, MAVS 92: Jalen Rose scored 24, Reggie Miller added 22 and host Indiana used a 10-0 run midway through the fourth quarter to beat Dallas.
With three key players seeing extended minutes for the second night in a row, the Pacers improved to 11-11. It's the sixth time this season, not including 0-0, that the Pacers have had a .500 record.
Travis Best played 45 minutes and had 15 points, 8 assists and 4 steals. Rose played 45 minutes and shot 10-for-17 from the field with eight assists, and Miller also played 45 minutes and was 9-of-12 from the field.
Before the game, Indiana placed forward-center Terry Mills on the injured list because of a sprained right ankle. Center Bruno Sundov was activated.
HORNETS 101, KINGS 90: Jamal Mashburn scored a season-high 33 and Baron Davis added a career-high 26 to lead host Charlotte to its first victory against Sacramento in more than three years.
The Pacific Division-leading Kings lost consecutive games for the first time this season.
Before the game, Charlotte center Otis Thorpe was activated and rookie forward Terrance Roberson was placed on the injured list.
PISTONS 92, HAWKS 69: Jerry Stackhouse scored 30 to lead host Detroit to its fourth consecutive home victory. Atlanta lost for the fourth time in five games.
BULLS 104, CELTICS 86: Ron Mercer scored 27 to lead visiting Chicago to its third win and its biggest since Michael Jordan retired.
PHOENIX -- Suns guard Penny Hardaway will be charged with threatening and intimidating his girlfriend while carrying a gun at his side, a prosecutor said.
The misdemeanor charge will be filed today, Paradise Valley, Ariz., city attorney Andrew Miller said.
Hardaway is accused of intimidating Latasha McCray outside his home Nov. 18, according to a complaint filed by the woman.
Hardaway issued a statement denying the charge.
"I have done absolutely nothing wrong," Hardaway said. "There are two sides to this story and in this case, the allegations surrounding my actions have been misrepresented. I am confident that my name will be cleared once the facts are carefully evaluated."
HORNETS: Derrick Coleman, on the injured list because of a lack of conditioning, will be stripped of his co-captain title when he returns to the lineup. Coach Paul Silas would not give a specific reason why Coleman was losing the title.
DENVER -- Apologies for a player rebellion have been issued, and admissions of poor judgment have been made. So where do the fragmented Nuggets go now?
If they're not careful, the next stop could be their customary place in NBA oblivion.
After losing to the Heat on Tuesday night, the Nuggets found themselves in the midst of a five-game losing streak and facing an internal challenge that threatens to damage their season beyond repair.
"This has to be something we come together with and support one another through," tri-captain George McCloud said, "because if we don't, it's going to linger on and be with us the whole season."
Denver's problems began Dec. 6 when a 17-point loss at Miami set the tone for a winless four-game road trip that concluded with an overtime loss at Boston on Sunday.
Coach Dan Issel then drew the ire of his players when he scheduled a Monday morning practice. Feelings that Issel mistreated struggling center Raef LaFrentz added to the team's discontent, and the players skipped practice without consulting the coach.
Despite the loss to Miami, the healing process began when players reiterated their support for Issel.
"We have to move forward from this point on and try to erase the mistake that we made," McCloud said.
SEATTLE -- Grant Hill never imagined his start with a new NBA team would be this painful.
"He's handled it as well as anybody can, but it's been tough," Magic coach Doc Rivers said.
In his fourth game of the season and second since returning to the Magic's starting lineup after a 17-game injury layoff, the prize of last season's free-agent class couldn't make it through the fourth quarter.
Finally, with 1:39 to go Tuesday night, Hill signaled to Rivers to take him out of the game because his left ankle was too sore to play any longer.
"It got to the point where it was hurting a lot and I was a liability out there for our ballclub," Hill said.
Tuesday night's 97-92 loss to Seattle left the Magic 0-2 since they got Hill back.