After being pummelled by the Dwayne and Shaq, the Sixers bounced back with 2 consecutive wins over the Raptors (where the other AI - Igoudala dominated with a dunkfest) and another over the Warriors with Iverson and Webber posting 38 points and 27 points. Finally, the Sixers are able to show that they can hold on to their leads in the fourth quarter. Now sitting at the top of the Atlantic Division with 14-12, they face a brutal seven-game road trip next.

Philadelphia 111, Golden State 100

By DAN GELSTON, AP Sports Writer
December 21, 2005

AI's Stats: 16-28, 38 Pts, 6 Rebs, 8 Assists

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Allen Iverson carried the 76ers early, Chris Webber put up points late, and the superstar duo continued to keep Philadelphia in first place in the Atlantic Division.

With a brutal seven-game road trip next, there's no better place to sit.

Iverson scored 38 points, Webber added 27 and the streaking Philadelphia 76ers won for the sixth time in seven games, 111-100 over the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night.

With the Sixers seemingly headed toward another typical tight, frantic fourth, they instead pulled away from the Warriors with an 11-2 run to open the quarter and actually kept their double-digit lead for most of the rest of the game.

"It felt like we turned that corner," Iverson said. "We just did everything right at the end. I think Chris did a great job at the end. We ran the offense through him and he made some great things happen."

Webber and Iverson combined for 50 of the Sixers' 84 shots and made 25 of the 42 field goals. While Iverson scored 24 points in the first half, Webber followed with 15 in the second.

"I don't think I had any doubt about them playing together," coach Maurice Cheeks said. "The reason you put the ball in their hands is because they make plays."

The Sixers will need the All-Stars to keep it up when they open a seven-game road trip Friday night at Atlanta. They won't return home until Jan. 9 against Seattle.

Jason Richardson scored 24 points, Troy Murphy had 22 and Baron Davis 16 for the slumping Warriors, who lost their third straight game on the road.

Kyle Korver scored 14 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, and Samuel Dalembert had 15 points and nine boards for the division-leading 76ers.

Korver hit a 3 that stretched the Sixers lead to 11 early in the fourth and Iverson followed with a jumper that gave them a cushion that they've shown a knack for blowing this year.

Not this time, not after the Sixers kept control at the free-throw line and Dalembert ended the game with two emphatic dunks that brought to life a rather sparse and lifeless crowd.

Richardson and Davis answered the Sixers' spurt with consecutive 3s, but the Warriors faded down the stretch, scoring only nine points in the final 7 minutes.

"We've had a lot of practice holding leads and letting other teams come back on us," Cheeks said.

This rough road trip has deflated the Warriors' best start in over a decade that saw them briefly reach first place in the Pacific Division for the first time since 1992. Golden State closes out its five-game road trip Friday at Detroit.

"We just have to salvage this trip and play well," Murphy said. "If we don't, we could lose by 30."

After a slow start in the first half (5-for-12), Webber got rolling in a wildly entertaining third where neither team played much defense or missed many shots.

Korver's 3-pointer gave the Sixers a nine-point lead that was quickly cut after consecutive 3s from Mike Dunleavy and Richardson. Korver sank another 3, then Iverson hit one to push the lead back to nine.

Richardson buried another 3 -- the teams combined to go 7-for-12 in the quarter -- in the final minute that pulled the Warriors to 86-83, which was as close as they'd come the rest of the game.

Webber scored 11 points in the third quarter, nearly negating the Warriors 77 percent shooting mark from the floor.

"We've got to turn it around and get tougher," Warriors coach Mike Montgomery said. "We're going to have to guard people."

With Kobe Bryant and his 62 points breathing down Iverson's tattooed neck in the league scoring race, the Sixers guard appeared early to want to put more space between the bicoastal All-Stars than the 9/10 of a point that separated them heading into the game.

Iverson scored from all over the floor in the first half, making 11 of 17 shots for 24 points before cooling down and getting Webber and the rest of his teammates move involved in the second.

Notes

With Sixers C Steven Hunter inactive (leg), Michael Bradley returned to the lineup after sitting out the last four games with a bad back. Hunter said he should return for Friday's game at Atlanta. ... The Sixers are 7-0 at home against the Western Conference. ... The Sixers outrebounded the Warriors 47-39, making them 11-0 when they win the battle of the boards.

Philadelphia 107, Toronto 80
AI's Stats: 6-19 18Pts,

December 18, 2005

TORONTO (AP) -- Andre Iguodala had another career game against the lowly Toronto Raptors, a team that could have drafted him two years ago.

Iguodala matched his career high with 26 points Sunday to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a 107-80 rout over the Raptors, who have the worst record in the NBA.

Iguodala repeatedly dunked on the Raptors, who fell to 4-20 overall and 1-12 at home.

"I feel comfortable in this gym," Iguodala said. "The crowd really embraces me when I come here. It's kind of funny being on the road."

The forward also had 26 points in a victory over Toronto on Nov 16. The Raptors selected center Rafael Araujo as the No. 8 pick, one spot ahead of Iguodala, two years ago. Fans booed Araujo in the fourth quarter when he failed to convert an alley-oop dunk. He had no points and seven rebounds.

Iguodala has outscored Araujo 52-0 in two games in Toronto this season.

"I was pretty sure I wasn't coming to Toronto. I worked out for a lot of teams except Toronto," Iguodala said. "I'm happy to be in my position."

Kyle Korver had 23 points and Allen Iverson added 18 for the Sixers, who have won five of six to raise their record to 13-12.

Center Samuel Dalembert, who grew up in Montreal, added 18 rebounds and 11 points for Philadelphia.

Iguodala had five assists and was 9-for-10 from the field. He had 13 points as Philadelphia outscored Toronto 28-14 in the decisive third quarter. Toronto committed seven turnovers in the quarter, leading to fast-break dunks.

"It was the second game in row he had a magnificent game up here," Philadelphia coach Maurice Cheeks said. "He, again, was instrumental in getting into the open court and getting easy baskets."

Iguodala had four dunks as the Sixers started the period on a 21-4 run. Iverson made a spectacular bounce pass to Iguodala, whose tomahawk dunk gave Philadelphia a 61-48 lead. He also blew by Joey Graham for a jam.

"We made him look like an All-Star. He's not that caliber of player right now," Toronto's Morris Peterson said. "It's definitely embarrassing."

Even Philadelphia reserve Shavlik Randolph got into the dunkathon, throwing down a reverse jam on a fast break in the fourth quarter.

Chris Bosh had 22 points for the Raptors, who dropped to 0-3 against Philadelphia this year. Jalen Rose had two points in 12 minutes off the bench.

"We are 4-20. We are not getting it down. It's an embarrassment. We lost by

Notes

The Raptors placed starting PG Jose Calderon on the inactive roster and moved F Eric Williams to the active roster. Calderon, a rookie, averaged 7.0 points and 6.4 assists in 23 games. ... Toronto committed 18 turnovers, leading to 23 points

Miami 112, Philadelphia 105
AI's Stats: 14-29, 35 Pts, 4 Rebs, 4 Assists

By DAN GELSTON, AP Sports Writer
December 16, 2005

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Shaquille O'Neal, Dwyane Wade and Pat Riley are getting along perfectly.

Wade scored 32 points, O'Neal had 21 points and 13 rebounds and Riley stayed unbeaten as Miami Heat coach with a 112-105 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night.

"If I had some players, I'd be better than that," Riley said, laughing. "Give me some players and we'll win by 20."

While Riley was joking, the rest of the league is quickly finding the results of this new terrific trio to be no laughing matter. Since Riley took over the Heat on Monday when Stan Van Gundy resigned, Miami has won three straight games on the road.

With James Posey and Gerald Fitch making meaningful contributions off the bench, and Antoine Walker sinking big 3s down the stretch, the Heat held off a late Sixers' rally to win their fourth straight game.

O'Neal credits Riley, who won four NBA championships during the 1980s with the Los Angeles Lakers, for bringing an instant winning attitude to the Heat.

"Guys have responded very well, and I think, because of his resume, guys will listen and will do what he says," O'Neal said. "I have a pretty good feeling."

NBA leading scorer Allen Iverson led the Sixers with 35 points, but left the game briefly in the first half with a sprained thumb.

Iverson appeared to hurt the thumb when he was fouled on a driving layup at the end of the first quarter. After Iverson was fouled by Jason Kapono, he grabbed his hand and paced around the court before finally going to the line. He missed the free throw.

Iverson did leave briefly to have X-rays, which showed no break. Iverson, averaging 34 points, returned in the second quarter. Kyle Korver also suffered a sprained right thumb.

Chris Webber scored 23 for the Sixers, who had their four-game winning streak snapped.

If Iverson's thumb bothered him, he sure didn't show it in the fourth, when the Sixers came charging back from a 20-point third-quarter hole.

Like he seemingly always does when the Sixers really need a rally, Iverson hit a gutsy shot in the paint where he was kneed in the belly by Wade, then used a sweet fallaway to start a three-point play that pulled the Sixers to 93-83.

Iverson then poked the ball away from Gary Payton, who yelled trash talk as he tried to keep up with the speedy former MVP. Iverson's easy layup made it 93-85.

When Korver drilled a 3-pointer from the left baseline, the Sixers showed as much life as they did all game. Payton was whistled for a foul after Iverson cut around him on a drive, sank two free throws and the lead dwindled to 95-90.

Then Walker hit a 3 from the left side that pushed the lead back to eight, Wade broke loose for two dunks and Walker hit one more 3 in the final minutes that staved off another Sixers' comeback and pushed the lead back to double digits.

Walker finished with 16 points, giving the Heat a boost before ending their four-game road trip Saturday at Cleveland.

"I'm going to get 3s, so I've got to make them," Walker said. "Everybody knows we're for real and we're coming. It's a good stretch and hopefully we'll be able to take care of business tomorrow."

Iverson was only 7-for-16 from the free throw line.

"I know mentally it was bothering me, but I don't know how physically," Iverson said of his sore thumb. "They knock Shaq about his free throws and I'm the one that should be getting knocked for free throws."

After O'Neal missed most of the season with a sprained ankle, the Heat are 4-0 since his return to the lineup.

"Our record's is not what's it supposed to be, but we're not worried about that right now," O'Neal said. "We've just got to become one of those top echelon teams."

Posey made all three of his 3-pointers in the first half, Fitch scored eight points and the Heat found nearly every hole and open look while shooting 63 percent and racing to a 17-point lead.

"They made a really good run at us, but it's all about holding them off," Riley said.

Notes

Riley downplayed the difference he'll make on the Heat, saying Van Gundy's success gave him a tough act to follow. "I think Stan has done an incredible job, the first year he coached, and the last year with almost 60 wins and the Eastern Conference finals," he said. "That's going to be hard to beat, but I'll do the best I can." ... After winning the battle of the boards in each of their last four wins, the Sixers were outrebounded 49-35. "If we're going to be big, we have to play big," Riley said.