Sixers lost a close game against Lebron and the Cavs, despite double-doubles from AI and C-Web. AI had 37 points and 12 assists, C-Webb had 26 points and 11 rebounds. But it was the Lebron show (who had a triple-double), as Cavs beat Sixers 123-120.

Sixers ended their losing streak by beating the Hornets 103-91. Playing with flulike symptoms, Iverson scored all 24 of his points in the first half and then happily sat out the fourth quarter. "I didn't feel good at shootaround," said Iverson, who told coach Maurice Cheeks he was ailing as he prepared to go back in for the fourth period. "He just told me to come back, and fortunately everything worked out fine."

Get well soon AI

Philadelphia 103, New Orl/OKC 91
Preview - Box Score - Recap

November 21, 2005

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- On any other night, Allen Iverson would have begged to go back in the game. On Monday, he was begging for extra rest.

Playing with flulike symptoms, Iverson scored all 24 of his points in the first half and then happily sat out the fourth quarter as the Philadelphia 76ers defeated the New Orleans Hornets 103-91.

"I didn't feel good at shootaround," said Iverson, who told coach Maurice Cheeks he was ailing as he prepared to go back in for the fourth period. "He just told me to come back, and fortunately everything worked out fine."

Iverson, the NBA's second-leading scorer at 32.5 points per game, shot 8-of-22 from the field and 7-of-10 from the free-throw line. He also had nine assists as the Sixers (7-5) snapped a two-game skid. It was the first time this season that Iverson failed to score at least 25 points.

"I didn't feel good at all," he said. "I was dizzy out there for virtually the whole game. Once I stopped playing at halftime, and came back in, I just never felt right. I think I'm coming down with something. I want to get home and take some medication and see how I feel in the morning."

Iverson was one of six Sixers to score in double figures. John Salmons scored 19 points, Andre Iguodala added 15 points, and Chris Webber and Steven Hunter each had a double-double. Webber had 15 points and 10 rebounds, and Hunter had 10 points and 12 rebounds. Kyle Korver scored 10.

"I knew Allen wasn't feeling well, and that I had to pick it up some," Salmons said. "He was encouraging us the whole fourth quarter to keep it up. It's a good feeling to play so well with Allen getting some rest."

The Sixers have been sporadic on defense this season, giving up an average of 106 points, 28th in the league entering the game. But their defense was much better from the start as they held the Hornets to 42 percent shooting in the first half en route to a 65-47 lead.

"We were more aggressive in our defense and the fact that we played more zone than we normally have," Cheeks said. "We were active in our zone, we were talking in our zone and we played a little more full-court defense."

David West scored 20 points, J.R. Smith added 17 and Speedy Claxton had 15 for the Hornets (4-6), who won their previous two games. The Hornets didn't win their fourth game until Jan. 11 last season.

"We were happy with two straight wins and that was satisfying enough for us instead of trying to come in here and get one against a very good basketball team," coach Byron Scott said.

The Sixers extended their lead to 83-63 after the third quarter and were never seriously threatened by the Hornets, who shot 5-of-21 from the field in that quarter and 31-of-78 (40 percent) for the game.

The Sixers also outrebounded the Hornets 50-38.

"They just got going," West said. "You can't let guys like that get comfortable."

Notes

Sixers center Samuel Dalembert, who has missed every game this season with a right quad strain, said he expects to join the team soon after Thanksgiving. ... Attendance has started to dwindle a bit for the Sixers. They drew 12,452 against the Hornets, slightly more than the 12,211 that showed up for their Nov. 12 game against Toronto, which was their smallest crowd since the 1998-99 season. "We've got to earn them back," Cheeks said

Cleveland 123, Philadelphia 120

November 19, 2005

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- LeBron James knew this was a big victory.

James had 36 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists for his first triple-double of the season, rallying the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 123-120 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday.

"It's one of the biggest wins I've had in my three years here," James said. "I wanted to give us an opportunity to try to win. It doesn't matter how many points were down, we just kept saying, 'Win the ballgame, by any means necessary."'

Larry Hughes scored a season-high 37 points, including five 3-pointers, and Drew Gooden added 16 for the Cavaliers, who won their seventh straight.

Allen Iverson led Philadelphia with 37 points, and Chris Webber added 26 points and 11 rebounds.

"LeBron is amazing," said Cavaliers coach Mike Brown. "We didn't do anything tricky down the stretch. We put the ball in his hands and he helped win the game for us. This guy is making me look like I can coach."

Cleveland, which trailed 111-106 with 4:57 left, went on a 13-5 run capped by a three-point play from James with 1:02 remaining to take a 117-116 lead.

Iverson missed a tough 14-foot jumper with 44 seconds left and James, who had his fifth career triple-double, added another score. Iverson made two free throws, but Cleveland's Damon Jones answered with two of his own with 17 seconds left.

The Sixers' John Salmons scored on a driving lay up 11 seconds later, but Jones finished the game off with two free throws. Iverson missed a 23-foot, tying 3-point attempt at the buzzer.

Andre Iguodala had 17 points and Kyle Korver added 13 for Philadelphia, which lost its second straight after a six-game winning streak. Jones had 10 for the Cavaliers and Zydrunas Ilgauskas added 12.

After the Sixers took a 16-point lead with 3:24 left in the third quarter, the Cavaliers went on a 16-6 run to pull within 96-90. James capped the run with an emphatic dunk, and Jones had two 3s during the spurt.

Sixers coach Maurice Cheeks said he was disappointed with his teams inability to defend the Cavaliers screen and roll plays.

"We've got to come up with a way to defend it," he said. "Larry Hughes and LeBron James obviously are very good, but it came down to the screen and roll."

Iverson scored 14 in the first quarter, hitting his first five shots of the game. Hughes had 10 for the Cavaliers and James nine, including a dunk with 4.9 seconds left in the opening period as the Cavaliers pulled within a point at 31-30.

Hughes scored 12 points in the second quarter on 5-for-7 shooting, but the Cavaliers were outscored 35-27 and the Sixers led 66-57 at halftime.

Notes

The Sixers' 66 points in the first half tied the team's season-high for points in a half, and the Cavaliers set a season-high with 66 points in the second half. Iverson and Webber both recorded double doubles for the second time this season. Iverson had 12 assists... Sixers C Samuel Dalembert remained inactive Saturday with strained right quadriceps. He has yet to play this season. ... Mary Carey, the former porn star who ran for governor of California last year, attended the game.