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Wednesday, Mar. 14 8:30pm ET
Mutombo's defense leads the way for Philadelphia

RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME FLOW

CHICAGO (AP) -- Allen Iverson had the right idea when he decided to spend this game in the locker room.

Dikembe Mutombo
Dikembe Mutombo and the 76ers had their way with Brad Miller and the Bulls.

The Philadelphia 76ers didn't miss Iverson and his sore hip, routing the injury-depleted Chicago Bulls 85-67 Wednesday night. Dikembe Mutombo had 15 points, 12 rebounds and four blocked shots, and the 76ers held the Bulls to 36 percent shooting.

"Sometimes I wonder why kids try to dunk on me," Mutombo said. "Young kids just don't listen. I think they believe if they can dunk on Dikembe, they can get on a poster. We are one of the best defensive teams I have ever played with."

The 76ers might be one of the best teams he's ever played with, period. Philadelphia has the best record in the NBA, thanks in large part to Iverson, who leads the league in scoring, steals and minutes.

But Iverson missed the game Wednesday with a left hip pointer, and the 76ers barely skipped a beat. Of course, it helped that they were playing the not-so-proud owners of the worst record in the NBA.

Throw in the fact the Bulls played most of the game without Elton Brand and all of it without starters Ron Artest and Bryce Drew, and it was destined to be ugly.

Sometimes I wonder why kids try to dunk on me. Young kids just don't listen. I think they believe if they can dunk on Dikembe, they can get on a poster.
Philadelphia center Dikembe Mutumbo

"We'll just take the win," said Aaron McKie, who finished with 14 points, six assists and five rebounds. "We'll take it come playoff time because they don't look back and see how Chicago wasn't at full strength."

The Bulls shot just 25 percent in the first quarter and had only 28 points at halftime -- one above their season-low -- and needed a free throw by Marcus Fizer with 32 seconds left just to reach that.

Their 67 points were only three off their season-low, and the 85-67 victory tied Philadelphia's largest margin of the season.

"Those guys are really solid," said Fizer, who led the Bulls with 18 points. "Allen Iverson didn't play and they were just as solid."

The game was all but over after the first quarter. Mutombo alone scored almost as many points as all of the Bulls, finishing with 11 as Philadelphia jumped out to a 25-13 lead.

Chicago went almost six minutes without scoring in the second quarter, and Philadelphia had a 47-28 lead at halftime.

The Bulls did manage to outscore Philadelphia 39-33 in the second half and shoot 50 percent in the fourth quarter, but it was too late to do any good.

Ron Mercer had 16 for the Bulls, and Brad Miller and Jamal Crawford added 11 each. Miller also had 14 rebounds.

"We were a little better in the second half," Bulls coach Tim Floyd said. "Still nowhere near matching the intensity they bring every night."

As if a rout like this wasn't bad enough, the Bulls could lose Brand. Their leading scorer and rebounder has been struggling with a strained tendon in his left quad most of the season, and he aggravated the injury with 2:55 left in the first quarter.

He and Mutombo collided as they grabbed a rebound, and Brand landed awkwardly.

"That really jarred it," he said.

He went back to the locker room when the quarter ended and didn't return. Asked if he'd be able to play Friday against Seattle, Brand said he didn't know.

"Their feelings are, it's not good to rush it right now," he said, referring to the team's medical staff. "It's good to get it healthy."

Brand finished with one rebound and no points, the first time in his career he went scoreless. He also snapped a 52-game streak of scoring in double figures.

Game notes
Crawford, making the first start of his career, made a shot worthy of the highlight reels. Late in the fourth quarter, he banked in a 35-footer. ... Matt Geiger returned after missing the last three games. He finished with eight points and three rebounds. ... The 76ers have won seven in a row against Chicago.

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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard

Philadelphia Clubhouse

Chicago Clubhouse

Brand leaves Bulls' game with leg injury

Hip injury will keep Iverson out of tonight's game


RECAPS
Washington 103
Detroit 96

Charlotte 100
Vancouver 95

Orlando 97
Cleveland 87

Miami 114
Sacramento 104

San Antonio 106
Minnesota 100

Philadelphia 85
Chicago 67

Denver 95
Indiana 83

Phoenix 84
Portland 79

Utah 102
Golden State 83


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