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Friday, Apr. 6 7:00pm ET
Iverson-less Sixers win Atlantic title

RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME FLOW

PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Allen Iverson walked into the news conference, looked straight at the camera, tipped his new hat and said, "There's more to come, baby!"

Dikembe Mutombo
Dikembe Mutombo, right, gets position on Chris Mihm in the second half.
For the first time in more than a decade, the Philadelphia 76ers can call themselves division champions.

Dikembe Mutombo had a season-high 27 points and 13 rebounds and Eric Snow added 15 points as the Sixers, despite playing without Iverson and Aaron McKie, wrapped up the Atlantic Division title with a 96-88 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night.

Philadelphia hadn't won a division title since 1989-90.

"The progress we've made has been pretty darn good," coach Larry Brown said before Iverson interrupted him with his impromptu declaration. "It's a good feeling. We've accomplished a lot."

Iverson missed his second consecutive game and McKie missed his fifth straight. Backup center Matt Geiger left the game at halftime with swelling in his left knee.

Despite a makeshift lineup, the Sixers led the entire game until Andre Miller made two free throws to give the Cavaliers a 58-57 advantage midway through the third quarter.

Philadelphia then scored eight straight, ignited by a slam from Mutombo, to take a 65-58 lead. An alley-oop slam by Jumaine Jones capped a 13-2 run and made it 70-60 with 2:23 left in the third.

Cleveland didn't get any closer than seven the rest of the way.

"We have to find a team we can put together that will give more of an effort," Cavaliers coach Randy Wittman said.

Kevin Ollie, starting at point guard because of the injuries to Iverson and McKie, had career highs of 10 assists and 10 rebounds and missed a triple-double by one point. Jones scored 13 and Rodney Buford had 11.

"To start the season in New Jersey and then come here, this feels great," said Ollie, who has been cut six times in his career.

Lamond Murray scored 16 points, Miller had 15 and Clarence Weatherspoon added 14 for the Cavaliers, who lost their sixth straight and 11th in a row on the road.

Iverson, the league's leading scorer with an average of 31.2 points, didn't play because of a tailbone contusion. He has missed seven of the last 12 games.

McKie sat out because of a sprained right knee, but Tyrone Hill returned after missing one game with a mild back strain and Snow played despite a nagging right ankle injury.

"I feel great," Sixers president Pat Croce said, echoing his trademark slogan. "It's the first of many. I want to wear a different hat next week."

After an offseason of controversy in which the Sixers nearly traded Iverson because of his contentious relationship with Brown, Philadelphia has been in first place since Day One.

The Sixers opened the season with franchise-best 10 straight victories and never looked back. Philadelphia has managed to excel despite a rash of injuries, and made a gutsy trade, sending All-Star center Theo Ratliff and Toni Kukoc to Atlanta in a six-player deal for Mutombo.

"We've had a lot of obstacles this year and managed to hold things together," Brown said.

Mutombo couldn't be happier, especially since he was heading for the lottery with Atlanta a little over a month ago.

"Being on a team that has won the division, that has a chance to win the conference and go all the way is just a blessing," Mutombo said.

Cleveland threatened in the fourth. A layup by Weatherspoon and a 3-pointer by Murray cut it to 84-77 with 4:56 left. But the Sixers scored six straight, including two jumpers by Snow.

Iverson, wearing street clothes and standing in front of the Sixers' bench, clapped his hands vigorously and raised his arms in the air after Snow's second jumper.

Game notes
The Sixers signed forward Raja Bell to a 10-day contract before the game and placed guard Pepe Sanchez on the injured list. Bell, a 6-foot-5, 215-pound forward from Florida International, had signed with the IBL's Sioux Falls SkyForce on March 31. "When I got the second call, I was at Denny's. I went outside and let out a yell," said Bell, who was waived by San Antonio in October. ... Brown moved ahead of former Sixers coach Gene Shue into eighth place on the NBA list with 785 career victories. ... The Sixers are 5-4 without Iverson this season.

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RECAPS
Philadelphia 96
Cleveland 88

LA Lakers 100
Boston 96

Miami 81
Charlotte 76

Toronto 108
Orlando 100

Indiana 100
Chicago 93

Minnesota 101
Phoenix 88

Sacramento 118
Vancouver 90

Portland 122
Golden State 91

LA Clippers 113
Milwaukee 110


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