For a 22-year-old, Allen Iverson has the patience of a veteran.
"We were just trying to get their lead back to 10 before the fourth quarter," Iverson said. His Philadelphia 76ers trailed the Phoenix Suns by 20 points in the third quarter. "We were unable to do it, but we felt good about how hard we fought to get back into the game."In the fourth quarter, we made some turnovers and got a couple of breaks."
Iverson had 13 points during a 20-3 run that got the Sixers the lead at 83-82 with 2:30 to play, and Derrick Coleman popped in a last-second 17-footer as the Sixers beat the Suns 85-84 on Tuesday night.
Philadelphia's seventh victory in 26 road games and first in Phoenix in 12 years came against one of the NBA's hottest teams. The Suns had won five straight and 10 of 12.
But Iverson outleaped Jason Kidd on a jump ball with 13 seconds to go, and after Phoenix's Antonio McDyess lost a rebound out of bounds, Coleman took an inbounds pass on a play known as "the clock."
"When the shot clock is down low, Al and Theo (Ratliff) screen my man low, and I pop out and take the jump shot," Coleman said.
Iverson finished with 27 points, and Coleman had 18 points and 10 rebounds as the Suns blew a 20-point lead for the first time in the 5-year-old America West Arena.
"A classic example of us flirting with fire," coach Danny Ainge said. "We have a tendency to do that, and it finally got us."
NETS 110, GRIZZLIES 101: Sam Cassell scored 26 of his 28 points in the second half, and New Jersey snapped a three-game losing streak. Kerry Kittles had 29 points and career-high 13 rebounds. Keith Van Horn scored 13.
WIZARDS 124, ROCKETS 112: Chris Webber, returning to the lineup after missing eight games with a strained shoulder, scored a season-high 36 points and grabbed 13 rebounds as Washington snapped a four-game losing streak.
Rod Strickland had 31 points and 15 assists for the Wizards, while Tracy Murray added 27 points, including four 3-pointers. Kevin Willis had 20 points and 12 rebounds for the visiting Rockets.
WARRIORS 87, KNICKS 82: Golden State became the first Western Conference team to win at Madison Square Garden this season by stunning New York.
It was just the fourth road win and 12th victory overall for the Warriors.
Donyell Marshall had 19 points and 12 rebounds for the Warriors. Allan Houston scored 25 for the Knicks, who won all seven of their previous home games against teams from the West.
LAKERS 98, BUCKS 81: Shaquille O'Neal had 21 points and 12 rebounds, and Eddie Jones scored 20 points as Los Angeles snapped a four-game road losing streak. Rick Fox and Robert Horry each had 13 points for the Lakers.
SPURS 105, TIMBERWOLVES 99: At San Antonio, Tim Duncan had 26 points and 19 rebounds, and Vinny Del Negro had a season-high 23 points as the Spurs beat Minnesota.