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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Larry Brown has to cancel his vacation
plans.
|  | | The Bulls' Fred Hoiberg tries to distract the hot-handed Allen Iverson. |
Allen Iverson scored 27 of his 43 points in the first half as
the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Chicago Bulls 99-88 Wednesday night
in a matchup of teams with the NBA's best and worst records.
Philadelphia won its fourth straight, 11th in its last 12 and
improved the league's top record to 29-9. The Bulls have lost six
straight and seven of eight.
The victory guarantees the Sixers will have the best winning
percentage in the Eastern Conference by Jan. 28, so Brown will
coach the East in the All-Star game on Feb. 11.
"I had a place in the Cayman Islands," Brown said after
realizing he'll have to pass on the trip.
Bryce Drew scored a career-high 24 points and Elton Brand added
24 points and 19 rebounds for Chicago.
Theo Ratliff had 12 points and Aaron McKie added 11 points and
seven assists for the Sixers.
Brown will be coaching his second NBA All-Star game. He led the
West to a 125-124 victory in 1977.
"He deserves it," Iverson said. "That shows the type of team
we have, the type of organization we have and the type of family we
have. He's a big part of the season we've had."
After beating the top team in the Central Division and Midwest
Division in its last two games, Philadelphia struggled against the
Bulls. Chicago led most of the third quarter and stayed close until
missing 14 straight shots at the start of the fourth.
Kevin Ollie gave the Sixers the lead for good, 75-73, on a layup
with 34.8 seconds left in the third quarter. Philadelphia closed
the third with a 9-3 run and scored 10 straight to open the fourth.
A driving layup by Iverson capped a 12-0 run, giving the Sixers
their biggest lead to that point, 87-74, with 6:39 left in the
game. Chicago didn't get closer than nine points the rest of the
way.
Brand ended a 5:42 scoreless drought on a hook shot with 5:23
remaining. The Bulls went 9:09 without a field goal.
"We've had offensive troubles in the fourth quarter, but they
were much different tonight," Bulls coach Tim Floyd said. "It was
a case of open shots that didn't go down."
Iverson survived a scary moment early in the second quarter when
he was fouled by Fred Hoiberg on a breakaway. Hoiberg was called
for a flagrant foul as Iverson hit the floor hard, came up limping,
but stayed in the game.
Iverson finished 15-for-25, made 11 of 12 free throws and added
five assists. He has a contusion on his right knee and left elbow.
"Allen was phenomenal," Brown said. "He's playing at an
extraordinary level. He's had an amazing run. He realized we were
struggling and stepped up."
A 10-1 run midway through the second quarter gave the Sixers
their biggest lead of the first half, 50-42. Iverson nailed a
jumper and a 3-pointer to make it 55-51 at halftime.
Toni Kukoc, playing against his former teammates, scored five
points. Kukoc, criticized for his lack of aggressiveness, gave up a
wide-open 3-pointer and passed to Ollie for an open layup midway
through the second quarter.
"That's the story the last five games," Drew said. "We stay
close for three quarters and lose in the fourth."
Game notes
Brown left the bench early in the first quarter after
twisting his back as he stood up to yell instructions. He returned
before the start of the second quarter after receiving treatment
from team physician Dr. Jack McPhilemy. ... Floyd received a
technical foul 2:06 into the second for crossing the midcourt line
while arguing the flagrant foul by Hoiberg. ... Bulls forward
Marcus Fizer received a technical foul late in the third quarter
for arguing a foul on Kukoc. ... Chicago outrebounded the Sixers
47-37, including 21-10 on the offensive end. ... Ratliff needed
five stitches to close a cut on his upper lip.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Chicago Clubhouse
Philadelphia Clubhouse
RECAPS
Philadelphia 99
Chicago 88
Dallas 91
Charlotte 90
New Jersey 108
Washington 89
Minnesota 89
Utah 81
Toronto 98
San Antonio 91
Denver 121
Vancouver 97
Sacramento 111
Boston 106
Phoenix 89
Seattle 80
FROM
ATHLETESDIRECT
Larry Brown Official Site
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