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Big-scoring Iverson excels, Jordan jousts with Malone

Washington Wizards' Michael Jordan, right, banters with Karl Malone of the Utah Jazz after they both received technical fouls during the second half of play at the MCI Center on Thursday, in Washington. The Wizards won 105-102. PHOTO: AFP

Allen Iverson scored 37 points, including a go-ahead basket in the final minute after coming back from an ankle injury, to lead the Philadelphia 76ers over the San Antonio Spurs 99-94 on Thursday.

The Sixers snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 5-0 at the First Union Center. San Antonio has lost three consecutive games after winning three in succession.

Keith Van Horn had 21 points and nine rebounds, Brian Skinner added 13 points and 11 rebounds, and Aaron McKie had 12 points and nine boards for the Sixers.

Tim Duncan had 29 points and nine rebounds, and Stephen Jackson added 15 points for the Spurs.

Iverson briefly left after hurting his left ankle in the final 8:08.

He got his ankle taped, returned two minutes later, and made a driving layup and a 3-pointer to give the Sixers an 87-83 lead, which the Spurs chased but could not match.

Wizards 105, Jazz 102

In Washington, Michael Jordan scored 19 points, including back-to-back layups to give Washington the lead for good late in the fourth quarter.

The Jazz had a chance to tie on their final possession, but Charles Oakley, playing for the first time since a brief appearance in the season opener, twice knocked the ball out of DeShawn Stevenson's hands at the 3-point arc. Stevenson never got off the shot.

Utah got close enough to tie after Tyronn Lue missed two free throws with 18.1 seconds remaining. The Wizards had made 34 straight free throws up to then, finishing 36-for-39 for the game.

Jerry Stackhouse scored 25 points and went 14-for-14 from the free-throw line.

He made six foul shots in the final minute as the Wizards held off the Jazz in an intense fourth quarter after blowing a 21-point first-half lead.

Karl Malone scored 26 points, and John Stockton had 17 points and 11 assists before fouling out in the final minute. There were two double technical fouls assessed in the final period, including one to Jordan and Malone.

Magic 101, Clippers 80

In Los Angeles, NBA scoring leader Tracy McGrady had 35 points, including a spectacular drive-and-float dunk as Orlando took charge in the third quarter.

McGrady took 14-of-26 shots from the field for Orlando, which snapped a two-game losing streak after a 5-1 start.

Grant Hill had 17 points and nine rebounds, and Pat Garrity added 14 points in reserve for the Magic, who were missing usual sixth man Mike Miller because of an ankle injury.

Corey Maggette and Michael Olowokandi led Los Angeles with 16 points each, but Olowokandi had just two in the second half.

Elton Brand had 10 points and 12 rebounds for the Clippers, who made 19 turnovers that the Magic converted into 26 points.
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