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Monday, Dec. 20 7:00pm ET
Snow's jumper at OT buzzer seals win | |||||
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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Allen Iverson came up with the ball and heard a teammate tell coach Larry Brown, "No timeout!" Eric Snow told Iverson, "Get the ball. They're going to double you. I'll be wide open." Given a chance to forge the outcome of this tumultuous day by himself, Iverson did what his teammates told him. He passed the ball, the Philadelphia 76ers won and one of Iverson's most controversial episodes ended in celebration.
"This was the perfect way to end it," said Iverson, whose pass in the final seconds of overtime led to Snow's 16-foot jumper that gave the 76ers a 122-121 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Monday night. "I got all the confidence in the world in my teammates," said Iverson, who had 32 points and seven assists in one of his most unselfish games of the year. "I'm going to think it's going in just like I shot it." Iverson dribbled the length of the court after Grant Hill made two free throws to give Detroit a 121-120 lead with 8.4 seconds left in overtime. Iverson passed to Aaron McKie, who passed to Snow, who is not known for his shooting. Snow pump-faked a couple of times while Jerry Stackhouse soared by, then hit a wide-open jumper from the wing as the buzzer sounded. "Coach wanted to call a timeout," Snow said. "And Aaron and the guys said, 'Man, let's play it out.' " Snow appeared reluctant to take the shot. He pump-faked to get Stackhouse in the air, then faked a pass to McKie and took the shot. "The pump-fake got Jerry," Snow said. "With the other fake, I wanted Grant to make a decision: Either take Aaron or play me. He chose to play Aaron." Sixers players and coaches stormed the court, a much-needed celebration for a team that was embroiled in yet another quarrel between Iverson and Brown. Earlier in the day, Iverson met with Brown, general manager Billy King and president Pat Croce for more than two hours. Iverson then apologized for saying he should be traded, and Brown said he understood Iverson better than ever. "If I tell you that everything in that meeting was great, I'd be lying to you," Iverson said. "I can say this, after I left out of this room, I felt good about him, I felt good about myself and I felt good about this organization." The Sixers avenged their 104-91 loss Saturday in Detroit in which Brown benched his starters with the team trailing by 23 points -- resulting in Iverson's angry words and suggestion for a trade. "After all the junk, I would've liked to see Allen make the shot," Brown said. "I'm thrilled that with eight seconds left, Allen gave up the shot." With his two young children struggling on his lap during the postgame news conference, Brown joked, "Now you are know why I have trouble dealing with Allen." Tyrone Hill fouled out with 22 points, McKie had 21 and Larry Hughes scored 20 -- including a 3-pointer that forced overtime with 0.7 seconds left in regulation. "They made two unbelievable buzzer-beaters," Hill said. "But that happens. They're relentless. Coach Brown's teams never beat themselves." Hill led the Pistons with 32 points, but didn't score in the fourth quarter and lost the ball leading to a layup by Iverson that made it 120-119 Philadelphia with 16.3 seconds left. Stackhouse scored 23 for the Pistons, who appeared stunned as they walked off the court. "We did what we wanted to do," Pistons coach Alvin Gentry said. "We wanted Snow to have to make the shot, and he did." Iverson tried to get open for the winning shot at the end of the fourth, but Hunter tipped a pass intended for the Sixers star. Iverson tried to bounce it off Hunter to save it, but Hunter caught the ball. Iverson fouled him, and Hunter hit two free throws to make it 110-107 with 5.1 seconds left -- setting up Hughes' 3-pointer over Hunter with 0.7 seconds left to force overtime.
Game notes | ALSO SEE NBA Scoreboard Detroit Clubhouse Philadelphia Clubhouse On second thought, Iverson wants to stay with 76ers
Iverson to Sixers: Get me out of here if I don't fit in
Three 76ers starters benched at end of loss to Pistons
RECAPS LA Lakers 99 Boston 90
Philadelphia 122
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