Even after Allen Iverson gave them a chance to walk away with a win, the struggling Los Angeles Lakers found a way to lose.
Iverson missed two free throws with 5.3 seconds left in overtime, but Robert Horry's pass to an open, driving Rick Fox bounced off Fox's hands. Derrick Coleman then made two free throws to wrap up Philadelphia's 107-104 victory Friday night.
Iverson scored 32 points and Coleman added 18 points. The Lakers had one more chance to tie it after Coleman's free throws with 2.1 seconds left, but Iverson intercepted Horry's pass for his ninth steal.
"Not too many times you can choke and still get a win,'' Iverson said. "It's a great feeling to know we can struggle and still beat a team like this.''
Keith Van Horn added 20 points and 11 rebounds for the Sixers, who have won three straight after losing five in a row.
Kobe Bryant had 44 points and 10 assists, and O'Neal added 26 points and 14 rebounds as the Lakers lost their third in a row.
O'Neal, who fouled out with 4:01 left in overtime, missed four free throws in the final 2:42 of regulation. He finished 8-for-19 from the foul line.
The three-time defending NBA champions have lost five of six, dropping to 10-18. Los Angeles is 2-13 on the road, including 0-7 against teams from the East.
"It doesn't matter if you lose by 20 or by one, a loss is a loss,'' Bryant said. "We had spurts where we played very well. It's probably the best we've played all year.''
Iverson missed 10 straight shots, including all nine of his attempts in the fourth quarter, before starting overtime with a jumper. He hit a 3-pointer to give the Sixers a 99-97 lead with 2:21 left, made a free throw for a 100-99 lead, then found Eric Snow with a crisp pass for a layup to make it 102-99.
Coleman's two free throws put Philadelphia ahead 104-99, but Bryant hit a 3-pointer to get the Lakers within two. After Iverson missed one of two free throws, Bryant's slam cut it to 105-104.
"I thought Derrick was great,'' Sixers coach Larry Brown said. "You can't guard the guy.''
Bryant, who went to nearby Lower Merion High School, again was booed by Philadelphia fans, but not nearly as loud as during the All-Star game 10 months ago when he scored 31 points and won the MVP trophy.
The Lakers were coming off a 27-point loss to the New Jersey Nets on Thursday night in a rematch of last season's NBA Finals.
"Despite their record, they're still the team to beat,'' Van Horn said.
Philadelphia went ahead 93-92 on a pair of free throws by Coleman with three minutes left in the fourth. O'Neal then missed two free throws, committed his fifth foul and Coleman made another free throw to make it 94-92.
A layup by Fox tied it at 94 with 59 seconds remaining. After Iverson missed a runner -- his ninth straight miss -- O'Neal missed two more free throws. Iverson then missed a baseline jumper with 11 seconds left, but Bryant missed a 3-pointer, sending it to overtime.
After missing seven of his first eight shots and eight of 11 in the first half, Iverson played probably his best quarter of the season in the third. He was 6-of-10, including two 3-pointers. Iverson finished 11-for-33 from the field and 7-for-13 from the foul line.
The Sixers took their first lead, 30-29, on a driving layup by Coleman 3:14 into the second quarter. Los Angeles outscored the Sixers 15-9 over the last six minutes of the first half to take a 48-43 halftime lead.
"We had opportunities, but couldn't cash in and we couldn't make foul shots,'' Lakers coach Phil Jackson said.
Game notes
Sixers guard Greg Buckner left the game in the first half after being poked in the right eye, and didn't return. ... Coleman got a standing ovation when he went to the bench with 9:31 left. ... Samaki Walker again started for Horry. ... Van Horn fouled out with 4:12 left in overtime. ... Kenny Thomas, acquired Wednesday night from Houston in a three-way trade, scored 11 points in his first game with the Sixers.
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