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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Allen Iverson walked into the news
conference, looked straight at the camera, tipped his new hat and
said, "There's more to come, baby!"
|  | | Dikembe Mutombo, right, gets position on Chris Mihm in the second half. |
For the first time in more than a decade, the Philadelphia 76ers
can call themselves division champions.
Dikembe Mutombo had a season-high 27 points and 13 rebounds and
Eric Snow added 15 points as the Sixers, despite playing without
Iverson and Aaron McKie, wrapped up the Atlantic Division title
with a 96-88 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night.
Philadelphia hadn't won a division title since 1989-90.
"The progress we've made has been pretty darn good," coach
Larry Brown said before Iverson interrupted him with his impromptu
declaration. "It's a good feeling. We've accomplished a lot."
Iverson missed his second consecutive game and McKie missed his
fifth straight. Backup center Matt Geiger left the game at halftime
with swelling in his left knee.
Despite a makeshift lineup, the Sixers led the entire game until
Andre Miller made two free throws to give the Cavaliers a 58-57
advantage midway through the third quarter.
Philadelphia then scored eight straight, ignited by a slam from
Mutombo, to take a 65-58 lead. An alley-oop slam by Jumaine Jones
capped a 13-2 run and made it 70-60 with 2:23 left in the third.
Cleveland didn't get any closer than seven the rest of the way.
"We have to find a team we can put together that will give more
of an effort," Cavaliers coach Randy Wittman said.
Kevin Ollie, starting at point guard because of the injuries to
Iverson and McKie, had career highs of 10 assists and 10 rebounds
and missed a triple-double by one point. Jones scored 13 and Rodney
Buford had 11.
"To start the season in New Jersey and then come here, this
feels great," said Ollie, who has been cut six times in his
career.
Lamond Murray scored 16 points, Miller had 15 and Clarence
Weatherspoon added 14 for the Cavaliers, who lost their sixth
straight and 11th in a row on the road.
Iverson, the league's leading scorer with an average of 31.2
points, didn't play because of a tailbone contusion. He has missed
seven of the last 12 games.
McKie sat out because of a sprained right knee, but Tyrone Hill
returned after missing one game with a mild back strain and Snow
played despite a nagging right ankle injury.
"I feel great," Sixers president Pat Croce said, echoing his
trademark slogan. "It's the first of many. I want to wear a
different hat next week."
After an offseason of controversy in which the Sixers nearly
traded Iverson because of his contentious relationship with Brown,
Philadelphia has been in first place since Day One.
The Sixers opened the season with franchise-best 10 straight
victories and never looked back. Philadelphia has managed to excel
despite a rash of injuries, and made a gutsy trade, sending
All-Star center Theo Ratliff and Toni Kukoc to Atlanta in a
six-player deal for Mutombo.
"We've had a lot of obstacles this year and managed to hold
things together," Brown said.
Mutombo couldn't be happier, especially since he was heading for
the lottery with Atlanta a little over a month ago.
"Being on a team that has won the division, that has a chance
to win the conference and go all the way is just a blessing,"
Mutombo said.
Cleveland threatened in the fourth. A layup by Weatherspoon and
a 3-pointer by Murray cut it to 84-77 with 4:56 left. But the
Sixers scored six straight, including two jumpers by Snow.
Iverson, wearing street clothes and standing in front of the
Sixers' bench, clapped his hands vigorously and raised his arms in
the air after Snow's second jumper.
Game notes
The Sixers signed forward Raja Bell to a 10-day contract
before the game and placed guard Pepe Sanchez on the injured list.
Bell, a 6-foot-5, 215-pound forward from Florida International, had
signed with the IBL's Sioux Falls SkyForce on March 31. "When I
got the second call, I was at Denny's. I went outside and let out a
yell," said Bell, who was waived by San Antonio in October. ...
Brown moved ahead of former Sixers coach Gene Shue into eighth
place on the NBA list with 785 career victories. ... The Sixers are
5-4 without Iverson this season.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Cleveland Clubhouse
Philadelphia Clubhouse
RECAPS
Philadelphia 96
Cleveland 88
LA Lakers 100
Boston 96
Miami 81
Charlotte 76
Toronto 108
Orlando 100
Indiana 100
Chicago 93
Minnesota 101
Phoenix 88
Sacramento 118
Vancouver 90
Portland 122
Golden State 91
LA Clippers 113
Milwaukee 110
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