IVERSON HOT ENOUGH TO SINGE THE CELTICS
For a team that played in the NBA Finals last season, a .500 record isn't exactly an achievement to brag about. For the Philadelphia 76ers, however, it's a first step toward getting back to where they feel they belong.
"It meant a lot to the guys in the dressing room to be .500," coach Larry Brown said Friday night after Allen Iverson scored 47 points to lead the 76ers past the Boston Celtics, 106-90, and help Philadelphia even its record for the first time in almost two months.
Dikembe Mutombo had 15 points and 12 rebounds and Derrick Coleman had 11 and 11 in his first game back after missing four with a foot injury. Philadelphia won for the sixth time in seven games, reaching .500 for the first time since falling to 8-8 at the start of a seven-game losing streak on Dec. 2.
"They're playing like a team that went to the finals last year," Boston coach Jim O'Brien said. "We did not have an answer for Allen Iverson. He took us out of the game early and we were chasing them all night.
Paul Pierce had 30 points and 13 rebounds, and Antoine Walker had 18 points for Boston, which had won five of its previous seven games. The Sixers have beaten Boston eight consecutive times.
"It's satisfying just because it's a win," said Iverson, who set a FleetCenter scoring record. "It doesn't matter who it's against or what arena it's in."
Iverson broke Walker's record, but the reigning MVP went cold down the stretch. After hitting a jumper from in front of the Celtics' bench that gave him 45 points and the building record, Iverson turned, shook his head and said, "You can't stop me."
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