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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Allen Iverson had his worst game as a pro, and he didn't use his rotator cuff injury as an excuse.
|  | | Theo Ratliff stuffs home two of his 17 points for the 76ers. Toni Kukoc led Philly with 19 points. |
Even so, the Philadelphia 76ers won, with Toni Kukoc playing his
best basketball since Chicago traded him seven games ago.
Iverson scored just five points on 2-for-18 shooting, ending his
64-game streak of double-figure scoring, while Kukoc had 19 points,
11 rebounds and seven assists off the bench as the 76ers beat the
Washington Wizards 87-84 Thursday night.
"It started to kind of get mental after a while," said
Iverson, whose career-worst 11 percent shooting percentage followed
a career-best 83 percent (15-for-18) performance on Tuesday. "Once
I started missing some easy shots, I went back to my high school
days and kind of got frustrated."
Despite his offensive struggles, Iverson made his presence felt
on the defensive end at a key moment, blocking Chris Whitney's
potential game-winning 3-point attempt with less than five seconds
to play.
"We won," Iverson said. "I'll go out there and play another
bad one as long as we win. I'm in a great mood. My teammates knew
that I was struggling and they stepped up big on the offense and
defense. I knew I was having a bad game once I started missing
layups. I usually don't miss layups."
Mitch Richmond had 16 points for the Wizards, who beat Atlanta
on Wednesday and were seeking only their third winning streak of
the season. Washington made just one field goal in the last 6:42.
"We held Iverson to five points," Richmond said. "That's what
we wanted to do, make the other guys step up. They stepped up
tonight."
Theo Ratliff had 17 points and 11 rebounds, and Aaron McKie
scored 16 points as the 76ers won for the fourth time in five
games. Eric Snow finished with 14 points before fouling out with
2:29 to play.
It was the 32nd win for the 76ers, their most since the 1991-92
season.
Iverson scored 35 points in Tuesday's 106-87 victory over
Dallas, a game he wasn't expected to play because of the injury to
his right shoulder. Against the Wizards, with the shoulder still
taped, he missed his first six shots and was 2-for-11 at halftime --
and both baskets were layups.
In the second half, Iverson passed up shots and the NBA's
leading scorer became a decoy. He was 0-for-7 after halftime,
including two bad misses on a layup and a 3-pointer when the 76ers
were rallying midway through the fourth.
But Iverson and coach Larry Brown said the shoulder had nothing
to do with Iverson's off-night. Brown considered taking Iverson
out, but said he couldn't because "he has helped us win so many
games."
The five points were just one above Iverson's career low. He had
four against Detroit on March 23, 1998.
With Philadelphia trailing by one, Ratliff blocked Gerard King's
shot under the basket. Kukoc was fouled driving on Juwan Howard at
the other end and made both free throws with 30.6 seconds remaining
to put the 76ers up 85-84, their first lead since 10-9 midway
through the first quarter.
The Wizards had two chances to win, but Richmond's off-balance
fadeaway jumper on the baseline didn't come close. Kukoc got the
rebound and made one of two free throws with 13.5 seconds to go to
make it 86-84.
"I won't say that I'm comfortable because I'm really not,"
Kukoc said. "I don't think I know the plays and everything yet,
but each game I'm getting more and more comfortable."
Iverson then got a piece of Whitney's long-range attempt, and
Ratliff added a free throw with 2.9 seconds left. Richmond's
3-pointer hit the rim and bounced away as the buzzer sounded.
Washington led by 13 early in the second half, but turnovers and
key baskets by Kukoc and Snow closed the gap to 63-59 at the end of
the third.
"Down the stretch, we had our shots. We didn't convert," said
Washington coach Darrell Walker, who is 3-11 since taking over from
Gar Heard. "I can't run out there and convert shots."
Game notes
Richmond passed Gail Goodrich (19,181) for 31st on the
NBA's career scoring list. Richmond has 19,190. ... With
Philadelphia forward Tyrone Hill out for at least two weeks with a
strained right Achilles, Matt Geiger (eight points) made his first
start since Feb. 20 and only his second start since Jan. 9. ...
Wizards center Jahidi White had five fouls in the third quarter and
fouled out for the second time this season with 5:04 to play. ...
Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder and cornerback Darrell Green
were among the spectators, and both met with Walker after the game.
... The Wizards released guard Reggie Jordan.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Philadelphia Clubhouse
Washington Clubhouse
76ers' Iverson earning praise for his toughness
RECAPS
Philadelphia 87
Washington 84
Miami 101
Seattle 83
New York 109
Milwaukee 94
Orlando 104
Charlotte 96
Cleveland 114
Chicago 110
New Jersey 103
Dallas 102
Houston 102
Sacramento 99
Minnesota 108
San Antonio 102
Phoenix 118
Indiana 87
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