RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
MIAMI (AP) -- Clutch defense at the finish gave the Philadelphia
76ers their best start in 16 years.
|  | | Allen Iverson scores two of his 23 points during Saturday night's victory at Miami. |
Philadelphia improved the NBA's best record to 4-0 by stopping
the Miami Heat twice in the final 10 seconds for an 84-82 victory
Saturday night.
It's the best start by the 76ers since they were 5-0 in 1984.
"After four games, you have to say they're the best team in the
Eastern Conference," Heat coach Pat Riley said. "With their
quickness and offensive explosiveness, they're very talented. And
they've been together three or four years now."
The Heat, with four new starters this season, lost their second
close game in as many nights. Eddie Jones led Miami with 26 points,
including six 3-pointers, but missed a 25-footer with nine seconds
to go.
A bad pass by Toni Kukoc gave Miami one last chance with 3.4
seconds left, but after Tim Hardaway took an inbounds pass near
midcourt, Eric Snow stole the ball to give Philadelphia the win.
"We had a foul to give, so I took a chance," Snow said.
Hardaway followed the officials off the court, arguing he had
been fouled by Snow.
"He came across my whole body," Hardaway said. "But that's no
excuse. We were up by 13 points and let them come back."
Allen Iverson scored 23 points for the 76ers, who overcame a
54-41 deficit.
"We had them on the ropes," Riley said. "That's where the
game was lost. We stopped playing."
Hardaway had 23 points and 11 assists, but Miami's starting
front line totaled just 21 points.
Philadelphia guards Iverson, Snow and Vernon Maxwell were a
combined 13-for-45, and the 76ers shot less than 40 percent. But
they outscored the Heat 23-8 at the free throw line and held the
opposition to 82 points or less for the third time.
"We won with our defense," coach Larry Brown said. "In these
four games we've defended great. We've had a lot of guys step up."
The 76ers have been unfazed by a tough schedule, winning in four
cities in the first five nights of the season.
"We're becoming more mature, and we're very confident with each
other," Snow said.
Tyrone Hill's basket put Philadelphia ahead 78-76 with six
minutes left, and the Heat went scoreless on their next six
possessions as the 76ers increased the lead to 84-76.
Three-pointers by Jones and Hardaway cut the margin to 84-82,
but the Heat could get no closer.
The Heat scored 11 consecutive points and held Iverson without a
field goal for 15 minutes as they took a 54-41 lead early in the
second half. But Philadelphia responded with 14-2 run, and a basket
by Iverson gave the 76ers the lead for good, 62-61.
Consecutive baskets by Kukoc, including a 3-pointer, put
Philadelphia ahead 75-66. Jones hit back-to-back 3-pointers to make
it 75-74.
Game
notes
The Heat fell to 13-4 against the 76ers since Riley became
coach. ... Miami's Duane Causwell made his 1,000th career field
goal and Hardaway sank his 5,000th in the first quarter. ...
Iverson missed both games in Miami last season, once because of an
injury and once when he was a suspended for missing a team
shootaround.
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NBA Scoreboard
Philadelphia Clubhouse
Miami Clubhouse
Salary exception for Heat may open door for Smith
RECAPS
LA Lakers 98
Vancouver 89
Indiana 94
Chicago 81
Toronto 103
Washington 96
Orlando 107
Atlanta 104
Cleveland 91
Boston 89
Philadelphia 84
Miami 82
Utah 112
Dallas 106
Minnesota 99
Sacramento 91
Charlotte 98
New Jersey 87
Milwaukee 97
Detroit 88
Phoenix 102
Denver 99
Portland 97
Seattle 90
San Antonio 117
Golden State 105
LA Clippers 77
Houston 74
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