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Tuesday, Feb. 29 7:00pm ET
Iverson made 15 of 18 shots | |||||
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 GAME FLOW
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- A partially torn rotator cuff didn't stop Allen Iverson from regaining his shooting touch. Iverson made 15 of 18 shots and scored 35 points Tuesday night as the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Dallas Mavericks 106-87.
The All-Star guard had been listed as day-to-day with the right shoulder injury, but he had no doubt he would be able to play. "I've been playing with this injury but I don't make excuses," said Iverson, who wore a bandage on his shoulder blade. "I didn't want to tell anybody about it because I didn't want to risk someone telling me I can't play." Iverson scored on his first shot, a driving layup, and was 7-for-9 in the first quarter for 15 points. His 83 percent shooting was a career best, surpassing a 13-for-19 (68 percent) performance against Denver in December 1996. Theo Ratliff added 19 points on 9-for-10 shooting and the Sixers shot a season-high 63 percent (46-for-73). "Allen was phenomenal on both ends of the floor," Sixers coach Larry Brown said. "I don't look at today, but the last three games. He's been playing hurt without saying anything. That's more impressive. Maybe he had peace of mind with the diagnosis." Iverson, who originally injured his shoulder in an 87-84 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Feb. 20, had struggled in his last five games, shooting 40-for-121 (33 percent). He refused to blame his shooting slump on the injury. "It's tough because the people with the cameras and the power of the pen don't expect you to have bad games," Iverson said. "I've been playing bad, but I'm only human. Just like reporters can write a bad story or baseball players can go into a slump, I'm human." Philadelphia never trailed after a 6-0 run erased a 30-29 second-quarter deficit. A 16-5 run later in the quarter gave the Sixers a 53-42 lead at halftime. Iverson added five assists, including a nifty behind-the-back pass on a fast break to George Lynch who scored on a layup to give the Sixers their biggest lead to that point, 51-38. Iverson scored seven straight points on a 3-pointer and two driving layups to give the Sixers a 71-48 lead with 5:01 left in the third quarter. He went to the bench with 5:41 left in the game and did not return. "I don't want to see him get hurt, but he's a warrior and he wants to play," Ratliff said about Iverson. Toni Kukoc had 13 points on 5-for-9 shooting, and Eric Snow had 11 assists, seven rebounds and six points. Michael Finley led Dallas with 15 points. Sean Rooks had 12 points and 11 rebounds. Dennis Rodman played just 19 minutes, grabbed three rebounds and did not attempt a shot. It was the first time Rodman was held under 12 rebounds in his eight games with the Mavericks. "We had nothing. This was our worst game," Mavericks coach Don Nelson said. Dallas shot just 39 percent (33-for-85).
Game notes | ALSO SEE NBA Scoreboard Dallas Clubhouse Philadelphia Clubhouse What injury? Iverson scores 35 points to lead 76ers
RECAPS Indiana 115 Detroit 105
Philadelphia 106
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