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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- This is what the Philadelphia 76ers
envisioned when they traded for Toni Kukoc.
|  | | Allen Iverson's soft touch produced 25 first-half points Saturday night. |
Allen Iverson scored 25 of his 40 points in the first half and
Kukoc added 17 as the Sixers beat the San Antonio Spurs 100-83
Saturday night.
"Toni came off the bench and gave us everything we thought he
could give us," Iverson said. "It was big time because it takes
the attention off me, stops people from double-teaming me and gets
other people on the floor a good look."
Kukoc, acquired from Chicago in a three-team deal last February,
has struggled to fit into the Sixers offense. He's averaged just
7.7 points and 20 minutes.
But against the Spurs, Kukoc shot like he did when he was
winning three NBA championships with the Bulls. He had 15 in the
first half, including three 3-pointers.
"When Allen has got his game, he opens things up," Kukoc said.
"I got hot and did what I'm supposed to do. I got the ball and
things happened."
One week after scoring a career-high 54, Iverson appeared set to
surpass that mark. He made his first 10 shots and had 18 points in
the first quarter before finally missing on a driving layup early
in the second.
Tim Duncan scored 29 points and Derek Anderson added 23 for the
Spurs.
The loss snapped San Antonio's five-game winning streak. The
Sixers have won nine of 10 to improve the league's best record to
27-9.
"When Kukoc comes out and does what he did, it was a hell of a
1-2 punch," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said.
Duncan's jumper got the Spurs within 54-50 at the start of the
third quarter, but the Sixers scored 12 of the next 17 points,
including seven straight to take an 11-point lead. San Antonio
didn't get closer than seven the rest of the game.
Aaron McKie scored the first eight points for the Sixers in the
fourth, while Duncan had 10 straight for the Spurs. By the time
McKie and Duncan were finished trading baskets, Philadelphia led
86-72.
The Sixers took their biggest lead, 98-70, on a jumper by
Iverson with 2:12 left.
Iverson was unstoppable in the first quarter, scoring on a
variety of tough shots. He hit a running jumper, fallaway jumper, a
couple 20-footers and several layups.
The Sixers never trailed after Iverson made it 28-27 on a
driving layup with 7.8 seconds left in the first.
Iverson finished 17-for-29 and made six of seven free throws. He had
five rebounds and four assists.
"He was phenomenal," Sixers coach Larry Brown said. "I was
looking for times to take out to rest him, but he was doing so well
I didn't think about it. He played great."
The Sixers are 10-11 when Iverson scores more than 40 points,
including 4-1 this season.
"It's frustrating when he's hitting shots when you're playing
good defense," Anderson said about guarding Iverson. "You've got
to give him credit. He really had it going."
Game notes
Spurs forward Malik Rose, a Philly native who played at
Drexel, missed his fourth straight game with a sore right hip. ...
The Sixers had lost six in a row to San Antonio. ... Brown got a
technical foul for arguing an offensive foul on Theo Ratliff midway
through the fourth quarter. ... Philadelphia avenged a 20-point
loss at San Antonio on Nov. 25 and is 8-7 against the Western
Conference. ... David Robinson had 10 points and seven rebounds.
... McKie had 12 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
San Antonio Clubhouse
Philadelphia Clubhouse
RECAPS
Phoenix 103
Dallas 86
New York 91
Portland 78
Atlanta 108
LA Clippers 88
Indiana 87
Miami 71
Orlando 111
Golden State 94
Philadelphia 100
San Antonio 83
Sacramento 84
Houston 81
Milwaukee 115
New Jersey 81
Utah 111
LA Lakers 103
Vancouver 119
Cleveland 107
FROM
ATHLETESDIRECT
Larry Brown Official Site
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