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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- Larry Brown wanted Allen Iverson to sit
out. Not surprisingly, Iverson didn't listen.
|  | | Allen Iverson made a surprise appearance for the 76ers, then scored 29 points to lead his team past the Warriors. |
Iverson made a quick return from a dislocated right shoulder and
scored 21 of his 29 points after halftime as the Philadelphia 76ers
won their sixth straight road game, beating the Golden State
Warriors 118-110 Wednesday night.
Jumaine Jones added career-highs of 19 points and nine rebounds
as the Sixers, buoyed by Iverson's unexpected return just five days
after incurring an injury expected to keep him out 1-to-3 weeks,
increased their lead over Charlotte atop the Eastern Conference.
"I would have liked to have seen him sit out another game, but
he played very, very well," Brown said.
Philadelphia improved the NBA's best road record to 13-4 with
the team's highest point total of the season.
Iverson said his shoulder didn't hurt as much as a left hip
pointer he picked up last week, or his chronically inflamed right
elbow, which might require surgery sometime soon. But after helping
the Sixers beat his good friend and former teammate Larry Hughes,
Iverson felt good.
"I really, really wanted to play," Iverson said. "I felt like
I wasn't going to hurt myself any more than I already was. I've got
a lot of confidence in these guys getting things done without me,
but I'd rather see them get it done with me."
Antawn Jamison had 36 points and 11 rebounds for the Warriors,
who lost for the fifth time in six home games and joined Vancouver
(8-20) at the bottom of the Western Conference. Hughes had 18
points in his first game against the Sixers, who drafted him in
1998 but traded him to the Warriors last season.
Down by a point with 7:24 left, the Sixers scored eight straight
points and held the Warriors scoreless for more than four minutes.
Aaron McKie, who finished with 24 points, scored nine points in the
final six minutes, and Iverson had several big buckets as
Philadelphia held on.
"I don't think (Iverson) was ever hurt," Golden State coach
Dave Cowens said. "You don't play with a dislocated shoulder. But
he didn't hurt us as much as Jones and McKie."
Golden State's Mookie Blaylock had 20 points and 11 assists, but
he couldn't contain Iverson. The 76ers beat the Warriors for the
fifth straight time.
Iverson injured his shoulder injury Friday against the New
York Knicks. The NBA's seventh-leading scorer nearly played in
Philadelphia's win over Utah on Tuesday night, and he was back in
the starting lineup against the Warriors.
Iverson played 19 minutes in the first half and didn't appear to
be favoring the shoulder. He scored 10 points in the third quarter
as the Sixers, who trailed by nine shortly after halftime, made a
13-4 run and pulled even entering the fourth quarter.
Iverson's motivation to have a strong game was matched by
Hughes, who was sent to Golden State in February in a three-way
trade that brought Toni Kukoc to Philadelphia. Hughes, the eighth
overall pick in the '98 draft, spent his time with the Sixers
waiting for a chance to play consistent minutes.
Hughes said Iverson only played because it was a chance for the
good buddies to face off.
"I hang out with the guy, so I know (injuries) don't matter,"
Hughes said. "Once the ball goes up, everything goes out the
window. That's how I play, and I learned that from him."
Jones, who like Hughes has festered on Philadelphia's bench
after leaving college early, easily surpassed his previous
career-high of eight points. He hit a 3-pointer, was fouled by
Hughes and hit the foul shot with 8:40 to play.
Game notes
In the second quarter, Golden State made a 15-0 run,
holding the Sixers scoreless for more than four minutes. ... The
crowd of 18,726 -- just short of capacity -- was one of the largest
of the season at Oakland Arena. ... Iverson didn't take the court
for pregame warmups until several minutes after his teammates. He
was applauded by a section of Philly fans.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Philadelphia Clubhouse
Golden State Clubhouse
RECAPS
New York 89
Washington 82
Miami 91
Indiana 79
Seattle 107
Houston 92
Philadelphia 118
Golden State 110
FROM
ATHLETESDIRECT
Antawn Jamison Official Site
Larry Brown Official Site
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