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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- A packed house, a standing ovation and a
blowout victory. It must have reminded Toni Kukoc of the glory days in Chicago.
|  | | Toni Kukoc scored 11 points in his first 24 minutes as a member of the 76ers. |
Playing his first game for an NBA team other than the Bulls, Kukoc helped the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 104-75 Friday night for their biggest victory of the year.
"It's going to be a little bit of an adjustment for me," said Kukoc, who had 11 points and four assists and electrified his new building with a deft display of passing and shooting. "I mean, seven years in the same place, doing the same things, you get comfortable."
Actually, Kukoc looked awfully comfortable in his new surroundings from the moment he stepped on the court.
"If he plays like this every night, I think it becomes contagious," Sixers coach Larry Brown said.
The 6-foot-11 swingman, acquired from the Bulls on Wednesday,
brought down the house with a windmill finger-roll off a 60-foot
bounce pass from Allen Iverson. The sensational basket gave Philadelphia a 30-point lead, 92-62.
As far as Brown was concerned, that wasn't even Kukoc's best play of the night. Brown, a former point guard who's been preaching pass-first, shoot-second for decades, was ecstatic with Kukoc's unselfishness.
"If you pass the ball and move yourself, it's a pretty simple
game," Brown said.
Kukoc came off the bench in the first quarter, made five of seven shots
from the field and got burned a couple of times on defense -- though
nobody seemed to mind. He got another ovation from the crowd of
20,383 when he went to the bench with 4:39 left.
After the game, his locker was packed with reporters and TV cameras -- to the delight of Iverson, who had 19 points on 8-for-23 shooting.
"That's the best thing about the whole trade," Iverson said, gesturing toward Kukoc's locker as he hustled out of the locker room. "I'm loving it already."
Kukoc, who once shared a circus-like locker room with Dennis Rodman, didn't mind, either.
"Actually, I did have a great time there," Kukoc said. "I
would just run through the room, get a shower and get out of there.
This is a little bit strange for me."
Shawn Kemp led the injury-depleted Cavs with 17 points, but was just 4-for-13 shooting. Cleveland, playing without injured starters Brevin
Knight, Bob Sura and Cedric Henderson, suffered its second-worst
loss of the year. The only worse night was a 48-point loss at
Indiana on Dec. 10.
Kemp, whose team is fighting to avoid a last-place finish, said
time will tell how much of a playoff threat Kukoc makes the Sixers.
"They'll have to prove it," Kemp said. "But it definitely makes them better, if that's what you're asking."
Kukoc received an ovation when he entered the game with 3:36
left in the first quarter, a rare gesture in a notoriously cynical
sports town. He made an immediate impact with two brilliant assists
-- one to Eric Snow for a jumper and one to Theo Ratliff, who had 16
points and 11 rebounds, for a dunk.
Kukoc's passing became infectious as the Sixers compiled 26
assists to the Cavs' 18.
"If the guys are open, then why not?" Kukoc asked. "If
anybody has an easier shot than me, why not?"
It was billed as "The Night They Saved Basketball" in
Philadelphia, by virtue of a comic book bearing that title which
was given away to the first 5,000 fans. It might go down instead as
the night the Sixers became real contenders.
Kukoc will have his first full practice with the Sixers on Saturday before they face the Los Angeles Lakers and Kukoc's former coach, Phil Jackson, on Sunday.
"That's going to be a real challenge for us," Kukoc said. "I do have a couple of days to get ready and maybe learn some more plays."
Danny Ferry hit a jumper to tie it at 29 with 8:48 left in the
second quarter. It was the last time the Cavs were close.
Philadelphia outscored them 24-6 the rest of the quarter and led
53-35 at halftime.
Iverson had four baskets, and Kukoc had one and set up another
during the 22-2 portion of the run. Cleveland's last four points of
the quarter came on free throws by Kemp.
Game notes
Sixers assistant John Calipari said he has not been
contacted about the Georgia Tech coaching job, and has no interest. He did acknowledge discussing the job at Memphis, but said he has no plans to visit. ... The Sixers confirmed that rookie Jumaine Jones lost two relatives in the Georgia tornadoes last week -- his mother's aunt and his father's sister, Ruth Williams. Jones, activated from the injured list Friday, said, "My mother has been
very strong and has helped get the family through this tragedy." ... The Cavs shot 19 percent (4-for-21) in the second quarter.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Cleveland Clubhouse
Philadelphia Clubhouse
Bulls send Kukoc to Sixers in three-way deal
Regarding trade, Kukoc saw the writing on the floor
RECAPS
Philadelphia 104
Cleveland 75
Denver 95
Toronto 91
Charlotte 115
LA Clippers 87
New Jersey 91
Miami 84
LA Lakers 107
Orlando 99
Minnesota 103
Vancouver 91
San Antonio 116
Houston 92
Phoenix 85
Atlanta 73
Portland 93
Washington 85
Golden State 122
Boston 100
Sacramento 118
Seattle 85
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