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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
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SHOT CHART
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GAME FLOW
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Allen Iverson passed his biggest test, not
by scoring 50 points again but by passing the ball and trusting his
teammates.
|  | | Vince Carter and the Raptors put up a valiant fight against the East's top seed, but fell short in Game 7. |
And in a game that came down to the last shot, Vince Carter --
"The Graduate" -- didn't have the final answer.
Iverson didn't have to win Game 7 all by himself, and he was
smart enough to know it. Handing off a career-high 16 assists on a
night when his shooting touch was off, Iverson led the Philadelphia
76ers into the Eastern Conference finals Sunday as they edged the
Toronto Raptors 88-87.
Carter, who graduated from North Carolina earlier Sunday and
then flew on a private plane to Philadelphia, attempted the final
shot of the game -- a 23-footer just before the buzzer that was a
little too long.
Iverson ran to hug his mother and his kids, confetti fell from
the ceiling of the First Union Center and the rest of the Sixers
celebrated the franchise's first trip to the Eastern Conference
finals since 1985.
The 76ers will begin their series against Milwaukee at home on
Tuesday night.
"I wanted to do something special, but the way you draw it up --
if you're a scorer -- is having a great scoring night. In a million
years I'd never believe I'd come out and have a career high in
assists," Iverson said.
"I feel so good about this win because I really, really know
inside and believe that I have a team, for the first time in my
life, that I feel we can win a championship with."
None of those teammates came up bigger than Aaron McKie, whose
22 points were one more than Iverson totaled on 8-for-27 shooting.
McKie shot 8-for-16 and scored Philadelphia's final four points,
Jumaine Jones shot 6-for-9 and added 16, Eric Snow contributed 13
points and five assists and Dikembe Mutombo grabbed 17 rebounds and
scored 10 points.
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Iverson sits out practice
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Allen Iverson did not practice Monday with the 76ers because of a bruised right hip and buttock.
He is is expected to play Tuesday night against the Bucks in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals.
Iverson suffered the injury Sunday against the Raptors.
-- ESPN.com news services
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Iverson, the league MVP nicknamed "The Answer," didn't score a
point over the final 6 1/2 minutes but had assists on two of the
Sixers' final three baskets.
In a series marked by spectacular 50-point scoring performances
by Iverson (twice) and Carter (once), the deciding game was much
more balanced for both teams.
Iverson's passing made all the difference as he continually
found the open man for the types of shots that allowed the Sixers
to hold on to the lead for almost the entire game.
"I've got four other guys on the court with me that I hurt
with, laugh with, and that's what it's all about. You can't get
into a Game 7, with the guys who were with you all season, and
forget about them because you think it's all about you," Iverson
said.
Carter finished with 20 points, scoring just four in the final
quarter. Antonio Davis led Toronto with 23.
Dell Curry pulled up in transition and hit a 3-pointer to pull
the Raptors to 88-87 with 54 seconds left. Iverson missed a jumper
at the other end, but Tyrone Hill grabbed the offensive rebound and
the Sixers ran the clock down to 10 seconds before Iverson passed
to Snow for a jumper that missed.
The Raptors rebounded, but didn't call timeout until 3.6 seconds
remained. The Sixers had a foul to give and used it -- running the
clock down to 2.0 seconds -- before Carter got free for the inbounds
pass and faked Hill off his feet.
"All I can think about is that shot. It's something you live
for," Carter said. "Maybe next year."
It was a disappointing loss for the Raptors, who battled from
behind all evening only to finish short in the first Game 7 -- and
the first conference semifinal appearance -- in franchise history.
Although he wasn't shooting well right from the start, Iverson
was doing all the little things the Sixers needed. He had a dunk
and a layup off his first two steals, and his fifth assist came on
a give-and-go layup by McKie that put the Sixers ahead 29-16.
Toronto began the second quarter with an 8-0 run to pull within
two, 31-29, but Philadelphia came right back with a 10-3 run that
included two putbacks by Jones. After one of them, two of the
Raptors pointed fingers of blame at Jerome Williams -- a clear sign
they weren't all working together.
"If we had stayed focused throughout the series, we would have
won," Toronto's Chris Childs said.
Iverson picked up his 10th assist on a dunk by Hill that made it
56-52 early in the third, and Toronto missed a chance to tie when
Davis got the ball isolated in the low post against Snow but missed
a layup.
Iverson had one of his best plays on Toronto's next possession,
racing downcourt and leaping a foot above the rim to get a finger
on Alvin Williams' fast-break layup attempt, causing him to miss.
Carter finally gave the Sixers their first lead since the first
quarter by converting a three-point play with 2:30 left in the
third, but Philadelphia quickly regained it and held it the rest of
the way.
"It was a very satisfying win for this franchise. As a coach
who appreciates guys trying to play the right way and caring about
their teammates, I thought this was a terrific accomplishment,"
Sixers coach Larry Brown said.
Game notes
The Sixers, who made 41 of 42 free throws in their previous
two home games, made their first 10 and then missed four in a row.
They finished with 32 attempts to Toronto's 17 ... Iverson's
previous career-high in assists is 15. ... The first four games of
the conference finals will be played Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday
and Monday.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Toronto Clubhouse
Philadelphia Clubhouse
Raptors-76ers Series Page
Sixers' Jones comes up big when needed most
Carter's graduation day ends with playoff failure
Carter squeezes in UNC graduation before Game 7
RECAPS
Milwaukee 104
Charlotte 95
Philadelphia 88
Toronto 87
AUDIO/VIDEO
 ESPN's Sal Paolantonio catches up with Allen Iverson after the Sixers series-clinching victory.
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RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Coach Larry Brown reflects on the Raptors' final play of the game.
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RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
It all came down to one shot. Vince Carter comments on his final attempt.
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RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Coach Lenny Wilkens justifies going to Vince Carter for the make-or-break shot.
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RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Allen Iverson could not imagine getting a career high in assists in such a clutch situation.
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RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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