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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Allen Iverson didn't have to score 40 points
again.
|  | | 'It's a hard job,' the Suns' Jason Kidd said of guarding Allen Iverson. |
Iverson had 26 points, and George Lynch added 15 points and 12
rebounds Sunday to lead the Philadelphia 76ers over the Phoenix
Suns 104-98.
The Sixers have won four straight since the All-Star break,
improving the NBA's best record to 40-14.
"People will say, 'What happened? He only had 26 points, but he
won the game," Sixers coach Larry Brown said of Iverson, who had
reached 40 points in three straight games. "He gave the ball up
when he was double-teamed and did all the right things. I'm really
proud of him."
Jason Kidd had 22 points and 10 assists, Shawn Marion had 17
points and 13 rebounds and Rodney Rogers had 15 points and 10
rebounds for Phoenix, which had won four of five.
Toni Kukoc added 17 points and nine rebounds and Matt Geiger,
playing his first game since a two-game suspension for violating
the NBA's steroid policy, had 14 points and seven rebounds for the
Sixers.
"Toni Kukoc gave us a big lift off the bench," Iverson said.
"He made a whole lot of plays and took a lot of pressure of me to
score."
Phoenix, which trailed by 13 in the second half, cut it 91-88 on
a layup and free throw by Cliff Robinson with 4:40 left in the
game.
But Aaron McKie nailed a 3-pointer and Iverson made one free
throw then drilled a 3-pointer to make it 98-88 with 2:56 left.
The Suns didn't get closer than six the rest of the way.
Iverson had 18 points in the first half, but did not score in
the second half until making a free throw with 7:23 left in the
game. He missed 13 of his last 16 shots to finish 9-of-24.
"It's a hard job," Kidd said of guarding Iverson. "He does it
for 48 minutes. He never stops. That's why he's one of the best
players in the league. You just try to make it as hard as possible
for him and hope he misses.
"He displayed another part of his game, being able to find the
open man. He's learned that and that makes their team even stronger
and better."
Philadelphia took its biggest lead, 75-62, on a 10-0 run midway
through the third quarter.
After the Suns cut it to 65-62 on a runner by Tony Delk, Tyrone
Hill's layup snapped a field goal drought of 5:23.
Iverson then made a steal, drove to the basket, drew two
defenders and passed to Kukoc, who hit a wide-open jumper, giving
the Sixers a 69-62 lead. Iverson stole another pass and found Kukoc
for a 3-pointer and McKie hit a 3-pointer to cap the run.
Phoenix scored nine straight to cut it to 75-71, but the Sixers
scored five in a row to take an 80-71 lead into the fourth quarter.
Kukoc scored eight straight points in the second quarter, then
assisted on two of the next three baskets for the Sixers. He lost
two points when his put-back slowly bounced around and rested atop
the rim midway through the fourth.
"In the second quarter, I made a conscious effort to play down
low and I got a couple opportunities to break my man," Kukoc said.
Phoenix took its biggest lead, 32-23, late in the first after
Rogers made a layup and hit a free throw to complete a three-point
play.
"Same old demons, we were throwing the ball all over the
place," Suns coach Scott Skiles said.
Game notes
Philadelphia has beaten each team at least once. ...
Phoenix plays its next three games on the road against Eastern
Conference teams. The Suns are 12-6 against the East. ...
Philadelphia has scored more than 100 points in four straight games
for the first time this season. ... Kidd's 13 points in the first
quarter were the most by a Suns player in any quarter this season.
... Phoenix had won 14 of the last 16 against the Sixers. ...
Iverson got a technical foul for arguing over a non-foul call
midway through the fourth quarter. ... Suns forward Tom Gugliotta
missed his second straight game due to the death of his mother.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Phoenix Clubhouse
Philadelphia Clubhouse
RECAPS
San Antonio 92
Toronto 74
Philadelphia 104
Phoenix 98
New Jersey 102
LA Clippers 96
Utah 94
Sacramento 90
Vancouver 110
Minnesota 102
Indiana 110
LA Lakers 109
Orlando 96
New York 88
Washington 101
Denver 98
Atlanta 98
Golden State 91
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Jason Kidd spins and hits the open jumper.
avi: 538 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
 Allen Iverson hopes the Sixers can continue their success.
wav: 207 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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