One by one they came over, giving him a reassuring pat on the back. And each time Eric Snow offered a brief smile, his way of acknowledging that everything would, indeed, be all right. The moment: the post-game locker room following Game 3, after Snow missed 10 of his 11 mostly wide-open shots while getting torched by Sam Cassell. Snow's comments that day: "It's my fault that we lost. The next time, I'm going to make those shots."

Two games later and Snow's a prophet. Playing with a fracture on an ankle that's already being held together by a screw, Snow hit two huge fourth-quarter jumpers that helped the Sixers overcome a 16-point deficit for a 89-88 win Wednesday night, giving Philadelphia a 3-2 advantage in the Eastern Conference finals. Said teammate Allen Iverson, who had a horrible shooting game (5 of 27 from the field), "The guy just played with a lot of heart."

While the Sixers are enjoying their best playoff run since 1983, this has been, for Snow, an extremely difficult season. He was playing the best basketball of his six-year career, averaging 21.1 points over the first 18 games, when he suffered a stress fracture in his right ankle. Snow spent 32 games on the injured list and didn't return to the lineup until a Feb. 13 game in Milwaukee. And while he played well in stretches, his game never reached that early season level.

Tests revealed the latest fracture, which occurred during Monday's Game 4, runs across the area of the old fracture. As a result, Snow had his foot secured in a protective cast. The decision to suit up last night was Snow's, and at game time he decided to play. He came off the bench and played 27 minutes, hitting seven of nine shots. His first big shot, with 1:47 left, gave the Sixers an 86-85 lead. Later, after a Tim Thomas turnover, Snow hit a 19-foot jumper over Cassell for an 89-86 Sixers lead.

"I was just trying to get the best shot I could," Snow said of the second shot.

Still, the Sixers had to survive a harried final seconds after two missed free throws by Aaron McKie. With a chance to win the game, Glenn Robinson had an open look on a short baseline jumper, and just missed. Ray Allen found an opening for an apparent game-winning tip-in, but his attempt was blocked by Mutombo -- preserving the win.

So the Sixers got the win and Snow, for a game, got the spotlight. After his disastrous performance in the Game 3 loss, Snow was the last player in the locker room -- and a large group of media members patiently waited to get his take on what happened. Sweating profusely, he answered every last question, some with that were asked two or three times, with dignity.

And after his maybe series-saving performance, Snow shifted from locker room interviews to the press conference podium, where he shared the stage with Iverson.

"I just wanted to give it a go," said the Sixers' captain, who's looking to make a return trip to the NBA finals (he warmed the bench for the Sonics during the 1996-97 season). "I just wanted to go out and see what I could do, and was fortunate enough to make a contribution."

For the Sixers, one win away from the NBA Finals, the contribution was greatly appreciated.

Jerry Bembry is covering the NBA playoffs for ESPN The Magazine. E-mail him at jerry.bembry@espnmag.com.