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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
BOSTON (AP) -- The Boston Celtics didn't have any illusions that
Philadelphia would be easy to beat after Allen Iverson left the
game with a bruised hip.
"They are a good team with or without Iverson," Celtics guard
Bryant Stith said after the 76ers, playing without Iverson for most
of the game, beat Boston 97-91 on Sunday to clinch a playoff berth.
"They don't have the best record in the league because of one
player."
Dikembe Mutombo had 18 points and 22 rebounds as Philadelphia
survived Iverson's injury to win its fifth consecutive game. With
the win, the Sixers are 20 games ahead of ninth-place Boston with
19 games to play.
Iverson hurt his left hip while diving for a loose ball 1:42
into the first quarter. He stayed in the game, scoring all of his
11 points in the period, but left after picking up his third foul
with 6:46 left in the second quarter.
Iverson returned to the bench in street clothes during the third
quarter.
"I tried to come back and play the game. It was just bothering
me," Iverson said. "I told Coach it was stiffening up."
Sixers guard Aaron McKie left the game in the second half after
getting poked in the eye, and he did not return.
"I'm worried about Allen and Aaron right now," coach Larry
Brown said. "He (Iverson) has got a really bad bruise, from what I
understand. He wanted to play, but he couldn't run."
The Sixers, who have won five consecutive games, are off until
Wednesday, when they play in Chicago. With the win, they are 47-16
-- the best record in the NBA -- and among the favorites to win the
championship.
But their chances would diminish without Iverson, who leads the
league in points, minutes and steals.
"He's a tough guy," Sixers forward George Lynch said of
Iverson, who has already missed games this season because of
injuries to his shoulder, knee and right hip. "He's played with a
lot of injuries before. I'm sure this is a one- or two-day thing."
Iverson averages 31.1 points. Only eight times has someone else
led the Sixers in scoring this season, including two in which
Iverson did not play at all.
The Celtics, who have lost eight of their last 11 games, are
chasing Indiana for the eighth and final playoff spot in the
Eastern Conference. Should they make it, they probably would face
Philadelphia in the first round.
Eric Snow had 19 points and 10 assists, and Lynch had 18 points
for the Sixers. Paul Pierce scored 24, and Antoine Walker had 21
points for Boston.
Philadelphia took a 10-point lead in the third and led by seven,
73-66, on Rodney Buford's buzzer-beater at the end of the quarter.
The Celtics scored 10 of the next 12 points, taking a 76-75 lead on
Paul Pierce's 3-pointer with 9:30 to play.
Mutombo hit two free throws to tie it at 84, then Kevin Ollie
made a 16-footer. Walker missed two free throws with a chance to
tie it, then Snow and Lynch each made a basket gave the Sixers a
90-84 lead with 2:39 left.
With the Celtics trailing 90-86 and about 1:20 left, Walker
stole the ball but forced a drive into a busy lane and lost the
ball. Bryant Stith hit a 3-pointer with 1.8 seconds left to make it
appear closer than it actually was.
Game notes
The Celtics activated forward Jerome Moiso from the injured
list and placed guard Chris Carr on the injured list with a broken
left thumb. ... Boston took its team photo before the game. Team
patriarch Red Auerbach was present, but owner Paul Gaston was not.
... Philadelphia C Matt Geiger missed his third straight game with
swelling in his right knee. ... Walker was given a delay-of-game
warning when, after being called for traveling, he turned around
and dropped the ball instead of handing it to the referee who was
asking for it. ... The last time Iverson did not lead the Sixers in
scoring was Jan. 19. ... It was the Celtics' third sellout of the
year.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Philadelphia Clubhouse
Boston Clubhouse
RECAPS
New York 86
Miami 83
Philadelphia 97
Boston 91
Toronto 101
Vancouver 84
Sacramento 105
Utah 90
Detroit 95
Indiana 78
Cleveland 124
Milwaukee 110
Phoenix 94
Houston 92
Dallas 111
LA Clippers 93
Seattle 109
LA Lakers 97
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