Game 6 was just over two minutes old when the message was delivered. Allen Iverson had penetrated the Bucks defense, and as he made his way toward the basket, his momentum came to a complete halt. The reason: A well-delivered forearm to Iverson's throat from Scott Williams, the first sign that if the Bucks were going down, it would not be without a fight.

Allen

As the crowd roared with approval after the forearm, the Bucks fed off the energy on the way to a 110-100 win that was more than a shootout between the two Allens (Ray Allen scored 41 points, and Allen Iverson had 46 points -- including 26 in the fourth quarter).

The Bucks, in the aggressive and physical play that followed the Williams forearm, sent the message that they would do whatever it took to get back into the series. And the Sixers, in cutting a 33-point second-half deficit to 10 in the fourth quarter, demonstrated that they won't quit, even under the most dire circumstances.

Milwaukee moves to within a game of the NBA Finals partly because of Ray Allen who, after a three-game disappearance, came out with an aggression that hasn't been seen since his 38-point performance in Game 2. During one stretch in the first and second quarters in Game 6, Allen scored 17 straight Milwaukee points, providing the early scoring boost for a team that reached 100 points for the first time this series (Milwaukee averaged 100 points per game this season).

Why Ray Allen doesn't take charge more often and be more aggressive offensively is a mystery. Yes, the Bucks have the Big 3 in Allen, Glenn Robinson and Sam Cassell. But Allen is the most talented offensive player among the group and he will have to be just as aggressive on Sunday even if it comes at the expense of his teammates.

A surprise contributor for the Bucks was Williams, who in addition to nailing Iverson early hit five of his first six shots and finished with 12 points, seven rebounds and two steals. "Our rallying cry coming in was we wanted to be the people making the action," Williams said. "Not the people reacting to the action."

Was part of "making the action" the elbow that connected with Iverson? "That wasn't my intention," said Williams, explaining that he initially stepped into the lane to take a charge. "But it's imperative we can't allow penetration into the lane. I come from the old school that you take a hard foul when you get beat."

Iverson, who had a tooth knocked loose by an elbow from Ray Allen in Game 4, interpreted the forearm differently. "I think it was intentional. He knew what he was doing," Iverson said. "But he ain't throwing no elbow at no punk. And after I saw that it was him that threw it, I knew it wasn't anything."

For Iverson, the ultimate payback would have been coming back from the 33-point third-quarter deficit. And he almost pulled it off with his 26-point outburst in the fourth, when he hit 7 of 12 shots. He pulled the Sixers within 10 after making two free throws with 4:37 left.

But this would not be the day that Iverson saved the day, this would be the day the Bucks were able to fend off elimination for the third time this postseason.

When the game was over, Ray Allen said he enjoyed the extra touches he got last night (his 25 shot attempts were a career playoff high) and is looking forward to being the focal point of the offense in Sunday's Game 7. "I enjoy a challenge," Allen said. "For me it's good to control the ball and get my shots early."

And when the game was over, Allen Iverson, clapping his hands as he left the court, was feeling good about his team's chances on Sunday. "I like the way we got back in the game," Iverson said. "And I feel good the way I played late -- I just feel bad we didn't get it done earlier."

Now the battle of the two Allens reaches its conclusion in Game 7. We'll see which one will get it done on Sunday.

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