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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Allen Iverson and Larry Brown couldn't be
happier together as the Philadelphia 76ers keep winning.
|  | | The Sixers' Aaron McKie, left, feels the heat from Charlotte's Baron Davis. |
Iverson scored 25 of his 35 points in the second half, and
George Lynch added 17 points and 16 rebounds as the Sixers beat the
Charlotte Hornets 84-79 Monday.
The Sixers improved the NBA's best record to 28-9, and have
beaten the top team in the Central Division and Midwest Division --
San Antonio -- in three days.
Iverson and Brown have clashed several times since the coach
arrived in Philadelphia four years ago, but their relationship is
at its best right now.
"He's playing great and he's playing good defense," said
Brown, who already has endorsed Iverson as an MVP candidate.
"For him to say that, that's the most important thing,"
Iverson said. "It's real special when the guy helping you become
an NBA-caliber player says that you are playing like an MVP.
Without coach Brown, people wouldn't be talking about Allen Iverson
for MVP."
Philadelphia has won 10 of its last 11 games, including four of
five at home after losing four straight at the First Union Center.
Elden Campbell had 18 points and 11 rebounds and Baron Davis
added 16 points for Charlotte, which has lost eight of 11.
Aaron McKie had 17 points, Tyrone Hill had 14 rebounds and Theo
Ratliff added 10 rebounds for the Sixers.
Iverson banged his chin on the floor late in the fourth quarter
and needed five stitches to close the cut after the game.
He joked with Brown in the locker room, warning him not to
imitate Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy and stay out of the way if he
ever gets into a fight.
Van Gundy needed 12-15 stitches to close a cut above his left
eye after he got in the way of a punch thrown by Marcus Camby and
intended for Danny Ferry in the Knicks' 104-82 victory over the
Spurs at Madison Square Garden on Monday.
"I can take a punch better," Brown jokingly told Iverson.
Philadelphia took its first lead since early in the second
quarter with an 8-0 run late in the third. Iverson made four free
throws around a dunk and a layup by Lynch to give the Sixers a
64-61 lead after three quarters.
Charlotte never regained the lead.
Iverson missed six of his first seven shots and was 4-for-13 in
the first half, but he warmed up in the third. He nailed two
jumpers, scored on a driving layup and made all seven of his free
throws.
After the Hornets cut it to 68-66 midway through the fourth
period, Iverson again took over, scoring eight straight points.
He nailed a jumper and 3-pointer, scored on a runner and made a
free throw to complete a three-point play, giving the Sixers their
biggest lead to that point, 76-66, with 5:49 left in the game.
Iverson nailed another 3-pointer to make it 80-71 with 3:51
left, and McKie iced it with a 3-pointer after the Hornets had cut
it to 80-75.
"They defend you tough, and get out into the open court, and
Iverson does his thing," said Hornets coach Paul Silas. "The
other guys sit on the perimeter and wait for him to break you down.
They are playing exceptional basketball right now."
Iverson, coming off a 40-point performance in a 100-83 victory
over the Spurs on Saturday, finished 11-for-26 and made 11 of 12
free throws. He also had seven assists.
A 9-2 run midway through the second quarter gave Charlotte its
biggest lead, 38-32, with 5:21 left in the first half. Davis scored
the last four points of the spurt on a driving layup and 13-foot
jumper.
Davis combined with David Wesley early in the first quarter on a
spectacular alley-oop. Davis, a 6-foot-3 guard, soared high to the
basket, one-handed a pass thrown way behind his head and slammed it
down in one motion.
"The 9-0 run killed us," Wesley said. "We fought and gave
ourselves a chance. They just beat us."
Game notes
Injured Penn State cornerback Adam Taliaferro received a
Sixers jersey with his name and No. 43 on it at halftime.
Taliaferro, who sustained a severe spinal cord injury in a game at
Ohio State on Sept. 23, walked out to midcourt on crutches. ...
Former Sixers Derrick Coleman and Hersey Hawkins combined for two
points. ... Charlotte has 32 regular-season victories over the
Sixers -- most against any opponent. ... The teams combined for 33
turnovers.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Charlotte Clubhouse
Philadelphia Clubhouse
RECAPS
New York 104
San Antonio 82
Milwaukee 101
Washington 95
Philadelphia 84
Charlotte 79
New Jersey 84
Atlanta 78
Sacramento 116
Dallas 105
Boston 107
Minnesota 102
Cleveland 107
Golden State 101
Indiana 89
LA Clippers 74
Orlando 113
Chicago 104
LA Lakers 113
Vancouver 112
Denver 122
Seattle 111
Utah 116
Houston 104
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Baron Davis skies for the alley-oop pass and slams it home with one hand.
avi: 782 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
FROM
ATHLETESDIRECT
Baron Davis Official Site
Larry Brown Official Site
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