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Friday, Jan. 5 7:00pm ET
Iverson, Kukoc elevate Sixers

RECAP | BOX SCORE

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- The Seattle SuperSonics have internal troubles again, just like they had earlier this season when coach Paul Westphal was fired.

The Sonics lost their third in a row Friday night, dropping a 121-89 decision to Allen Iverson and the Philadelphia 76ers. It was Philadelphia's fifth straight victory.

Gary Payton
Allen Iverson, left, collides with Gary Payton during Friday's game.
"If you're not giving effort and concentration, you're going to get embarrassed," coach Nate McMillan said. "There's some negative energy on this team, and until we change things we'll be faced with this kind of situation a lot."

Sonics guard Brent Barry, who had 13 points, agreed.

"Tonight we didn't even look like we got out of bed," Barry said. "You can see what's going on out there. There's no sense naming names. It's evident."

Iverson had 41 points and Toni Kukoc added 19 as the Sixers had their highest point total of the year.

The Sonics, who have matched their longest skid of the season, played on Thursday in Minnesota and seemed lethargic.

"That's a tough back-to-back," 76ers coach Larry Brown said. "It's obvious we had a lot more energy."

Aaron McKie had another solid game as the starting point guard with 10 points, six assists and five rebounds for the 76ers, who are on their second-longest winning streak of the season. The team started 10-0.

Kukoc had one of his stronger games of the season, shooting 8-for-9 from the field.

"I'm trying to find my role," Kukoc said. "I think when I get involved early it opens the game up for everyone."

The Sonics were paced by Rashard Lewis' 14 points. Gary Payton had 12 points and nine assists.

Philadelphia broke open a close game with a big run to start the second quarter.

Leading 32-26 after one quarter, the 76ers scored 13 of the next 15 -- Kukoc scoring eight points during the run -- and opened a 23-point lead by halftime.

In the third, Philadelphia scored 10 straight midway through the quarter to pull ahead 78-49 with 5:55 left. The highlight of the run was a fast break in which Iverson made a behind-the-back pass to George Lynch, who fed McKie under the basket for an easy layup.

The lead reached 34 in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter.

"When things don't go well on offense, there's no effort on defense," McMillan added. "It should be the other way around and it's very disappointing."

Game notes
The Sixers announced they will retire Charles Barkley's uniform No. 34 before their game against the Golden State Warriors on March 30. Barkley, who played for Philadelphia from 1984-92, becomes the seventh player in franchise history to have his number retired. Barkley has said that he would go into the Hall of Fame as a Sixer. ... The 76ers ran a 30-second video wishing the Eagles luck in their NFL playoff game against the New York Giants on Sunday. Then Brown ended his press conference with "Go Eagles!" ... Seattle's Patrick Ewing scored 10 points to move within five of the 24,000 mark, which has been reached by only 12 other players. ... Philadelphia is 11-0 this season when scoring 100 or more points and 16-0 when shooting 45 percent or better.


ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard

Seattle Clubhouse

Philadelphia Clubhouse

With interim title gone, Sonics may want McMillan for long term

Barkley to have his jersey retired by 76ers

76ers put Geiger on injured list, activate Sanchez


RECAPS
Philadelphia 121
Seattle 89

Dallas 115
Toronto 105

Golden State 100
Boston 88

Denver 100
Utah 87

Phoenix 108
Vancouver 76

Portland 119
Milwaukee 115

Charlotte 86
LA Clippers 73

Indiana 93
Sacramento 91

FROM
ATHLETESDIRECT

Larry Brown Official Site


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