76ers 98, Hornets 90
Preview - Box Score - Recap
By CHRIS SHERIDAN, AP Basketball Writer
April 20, 2003
AP - Apr 20, 11:33 EDT
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PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Of all the prolific offensive
performances in the opening games of this year's N
BA playoffs, Allen Iverson's was the best.
Not only that, it was one of the greatest in NBA
playoff history
Iverson scored 55 points Sunday night in a brilli
ant display of shooting, making 21 of 32 shots whi
le eclipsing his previous playoff-high of 54 as th
e Philadelphia 76ers defeated the New Orleans Horn
ets 98-90.
``That was his best ever, by far,'' Philadelphia
coach Larry Brown said.
Iverson scored 20 in the fourth quarter to help h
is team hang onto the lead throughout the final 12
minutes of a closely contested, physical game.
Iverson joined Michael Jordan, Rick Barry, Charles
Barkley, Wilt Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor as the
only players to score 55 or more in a playoff gam
e. Jordan holds the NBA record of 63.
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``When I'm out there on the basketball court in
front of 20,000 people, and I'm making shots and
they're into it and jumping up and cheering, tha
t's what I get the goose bumps from,'' Iverson sai
d. ``Because I know when these people leave this a
rena, that might be something they'll cherish for
the rest of their life.''
The fans weren't the only ones cherishing it.
Iverson's coach and teammates were in awe, as wer
e the Hornets.
``The only player I've ever seen play like that w
as Michael Jordan,'' Derrick Coleman said.
``It's right up there with Mike's 63,'' Hornets co
ach Paul Silas said.
``It was the single-best performance I've ever bee
n a part of,'' Philadelphia's Keith Van Horn said.
During the first seven games of the postseason Satu
rday and earlier Sunday, there was a 46-point perfo
rmance by Dirk Nowitzki of Dallas and a 43-point ou
ting by Orlando's Tracy McGrady.
AP - Apr 20, 11:28 EDT
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Iverson outdid them by a bunch, hitting nearly
everything he tossed up with the exception of
a stretch of five consecutive misses during t
he third quarter.
``He must've been watching TV all day, watching
all those young gunners putting up those numbe
rs -- and he had the last game in prime time,''
the Sixers' Aaron McKie said.
With Philadelphia clinging to a two-point lead, I
verson came off a pick from Van Horn and hit a 3
to make it 89-84. On Philadelphia's next posses
sion, he dribble-faked Stacey Augmon off-balance
, stepped back and hit another 3 to reach 51 poin
and give the Sixers a 92-84 lead with three minu
tes left.
After the Hornets pulled to 94-90, Iverson used h
is lightning speed to drive around George Lynch f
or a layup that gave him his final points with 37
.3 seconds left.
Iverson reached 50 points for the third time in 4
career playoff games. It was his ninth game with
at least 40.
``I caught a rhythm. The basket looked like an oc
ean, and I was just throwing rocks in,'' Iverson
said.
Iverson reached 30 points just 3 1/2 minutes into
the third quarter, but he missed his next five s
hots while being defended by Augmon before hittin
g a 3-pointer that gave the 76ers a 70-68 lead ent
ering the fourth period.
Iverson then made his first four shots of the fin
al quarter.
Eric Snow added 15 points and Aaron McKie 12 for
Philadelphia.
Jamal Mashburn led the Hornets with 28.
Iverson had six assists in the first quarter, the
last of which was the niftiest. Iverson tossed an
around-the-back pass to Tyrone Hill at the foul l
ine, and Hill gave it back and made a backdoor cut
. Iverson found him instantly, threading a pass to
Hill right under the basket for a dunk that gave
the 76ers a 25-18 lead.
Iverson took a brief rest early in the second quar
ter, and New Orleans had a 13-0 run to go ahead 33-
29. The remainder of the quarter turned into a foul
-shooting exhibition as the Hornets were whistled f
or 13 fouls and Philadelphia scored 14 points at th
e line to overcome 4-for-18 shooting.
Snow drew charges on David Wesley and Baron Davis o
n consecutive possessions, forcing both to the benc
h with their third fouls with more than three minute
s left before the half. Philadelphia led 49-44 at in
termission behind Iverson's 25 points.
``I didn't know what it would take for us to win, bu
t I knew it would take a great effort -- just playi
ng the game like it was my last,'' Iverson said. ``
That was the only thing I thought about. That's the
only thing I think aboutbefore every game.''
Notes
Iverson's overall career high is 58 on Jan. 15, 2
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