Iverson-led Sixers even Eastern finals at 2-all
Associated Press
MILWAUKEE — Bloody from an elbow to the mouth, Allen Iverson swallowed hard and finished off the Bucks.
Associated Press
Scoring 11 of his team's final 13 points, including seven in a row after he was hit in the mouth by Ray Allen, Iverson was the MVP of the fourth quarter yesterday as the Philadelphia 76ers beat Milwaukee, 89-83, to tie the Eastern Conference finals at two games apiece.
Milwaukee's Lindsey Hunter, left, and Philadelphia's Allen Iverson left it all on the floor as they battled for a loose ball during the fourth quarter.
"I didn't think the refs were going to let me back in the game because I was spitting up so much blood," Iverson said. "I was trying to stop the bleeding but it wouldn't stop, so I kept my mouth closed and swallowed the blood when it filled up."
Philadelphia also got big contributions from Dikembe Mutombo and Tyrone Hill, while shutting down Milwaukee's offense in the final eight minutes.
Iverson, who sat out Game 3 with a sore left hip joint, missed 10 straight shots at one point and finished 10-for-32 from the field for 28 points. But he did enough in the fourth quarter to make his early shooting woes insignificant.
Milwaukee fans booed the home team as they left the court, frustrated by yet another display of the Bucks playing poorly right when they had a chance to take control of a playoff series.
Philadelphia's victory ensured that the NBA Finals will not start until June 6 — meaning the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers will have had 10 days between games.
Of much more immediate importance is the outcome of this series, which is now essentially a best-of-three. Game 5 is tomorrow night at Philadelphia.
"All this game shows is that the two teams are pretty equal and it's going to be a great series," Bucks coach George Karl said.
Iverson played the entire game except for the final 16 seconds of the third quarter and had eight assists, five rebounds and two steals. Mutombo had 17 points, 15 rebounds and four blocks, and Hill — whose father is seriously ill in a Cincinnati hospital — added 14 points.
It was clear right from the outset that Iverson had his quickness back as he looked nothing like the player who moved through Game 2 at half-speed. Sprinting and accelerating like the Iverson of old, he was able to start and stop on a dime and use his crossover dribble and quick first step to lose one-on-one defenders.
Iverson showed off his speed on one of the key plays of the game, a drive around Glenn Robinson for a running bank shot with 3:06 left that gave the Sixers an 80-75 lead.
Iverson got elbowed in the mouth by Allen late in the game, staying down on the ground as the Bucks' Ervin Johnson scored.
"It loosened his right front tooth. It bled quite a bit initially," 76ers trainer Lenny Currier said.
Eric Snow's steal led to a fast-break layup by Iverson for an 84-77 lead with 1:07 left.
Robinson, who led the Bucks with 20 points, was ejected for drawing two technicals with 58 seconds left. Iverson made both technical foul shots for an 87-77 lead.
"It took a lot out of me," said Iverson, who missed his first two shots but was moving easily. "Coming into the game I knew I'd feel bad after, but my heart feels good right now and that's what's important."
