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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- Darrell Armstrong wouldn't give himself
full credit for containing Allen Iverson. He got too much
assistance from Chucky Atkins and the rest of the Orlando Magic.
When Armstrong wasn't in the game, keeping a hand in Iverson's
face, then Atkins was Sunday. And when the NBA's second-leading
scorer got around them, Orlando's frontcourt was there to make it
difficult to get to the basket in the Magic's 92-80 victory over
the Philadelphia 76ers.
|  | | Orlando's Darrell Armstorng drives for two of his 14 points. |
"I knew I had help, so what I wanted to do was be aggressive
and not give him anything easy," Armstrong said. "I knew all my
teammates were going to be behind me ready to help out. When you've
got that trust and belief in your teammates, all you have to do is
just push up on defense."
As a team, the Magic continued their push for a playoff berth,
winning for the eighth time in nine games. They shot only 38
percent, but held Philadelphia to a season-low 32.9 percent
(26-of-79).
Ron Mercer scored 17 points and Armstrong had 14 as Orlando
moved two games ahead of Milwaukee in the race for the eighth
playoff position in the Eastern Conference. The Magic visit the
Bucks Monday night.
"This is the biggest game of the year until tomorrow night,"
first-year coach Doc Rivers said.
Iverson was limited to six points in the first half when
Philadelphia shot 25 percent (11-for-44). He finished with 18 on
7-of-22 shooting. Tyrone Hill led the 76ers with 22 points and 14
rebounds, while Theo Ratliff had 10 points, 13 rebounds and eight
blocks.
The Magic finished an eight-game homestand with a 7-1 record,
pulling away for good with a 13-2 run after the 76ers had whittled
a 15-point deficit to 52-51 early in the third quarter. Mercer's
basket in the opening minute of the fourth period rebuilt the lead
to 15, and the closest the 76ers got after that was nine.
"It's rare that you win a game when you shoot 38 percent,"
Rivers said. "Our defense was tremendous."
Iverson was held without a field goal until 5:21 remained in the
second quarter. His 3-pointer began an 8-0 spurt that trimmed a
15-point Orlando lead to 38-30. However, the Magic maintained their
composure to go up by nine -- 48-39 -- at the half.
The 76ers missed 18 of 21 shots in the opening quarter and
weren't much better in the second period when they were 8-for-23.
But Orlando shot poorly (39 percent), too, and was outscored 14-3
from the foul line while attempting only six free throws to
Philadelphia's 22.
Iverson was 2-for-11 at the half, but heated up early in the
third quarter, keying the spurt that enabled the 76ers to trim the
deficit to one. But the 76ers, who never led, couldn't get the
lead.
The loss was the fourth in six games for Philadelphia following
a season-high seven-game winning streak. The 76ers already have
clinched a playoff berth, but still are trying to assure themselves
the homecourt advantage in the opening round.
"We knew what to expect," Philadelphia coach Larry Brown said.
"You have to match their energy. That is what we're supposed to be
about ... Some guys did and some guys didn't.
"We should be every bit as hungry as they are. I've said all
along we can beat the best team or lose to any team. It's all a
matter of us priding ourselves and (taking) the responsibility of
playing hard and playing unselfishly. We had too many turnovers, we
got beat on too many loose balls, and we gave up too many second
shots."
Bo Outlaw had 12 points and 11 rebounds for Orlando. Atkins
scored 13, while Ben Wallace had 12 rebounds.
Game notes
Iverson averaged 33 in three previous games against Orlando
... With a 17-7 record in games decided by three points or less,
the 76ers are within one victory of the NBA record held by the
1966-67 St. Louis Hawks ... Wallace had nine rebounds in the
opening quarter, while Ratliff had eight rebounds and three blocks.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Philadelphia Clubhouse
Orlando Clubhouse
RECAPS
Orlando 92
Philadelphia 80
Charlotte 96
Indiana 80
Houston 99
Utah 90
Miami 95
New York 94
Phoenix 102
Sacramento 97
Golden State 117
Denver 103
San Antonio 107
Vancouver 99
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