NBAJermaine O'Neal scored 34 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, and Stephen Jackson had 25 points to lead the Indiana Pacers to a 101-93 win over Philadelphia on Wednes-day, the last-place 76ers' 12th straight loss.
O'Neal and Jackson took turns down the stretch making clutch baskets to hold off a spirited Sixers team playing their first game in more than 10 years without Iverson on the roster.
Andre Iguodala and Kyle Korver each scored 20 points for the Sixers, a night after they traded Iverson to Denver for Andre Miller, Joe Smith and two 2007 first-round picks. Iverson was inactive for his final six games in Philadelphia after a bitter split with the franchise that made him the No. 1 overall draft pick in 1996.
PHOTO: AP
Allen Iverson will probably make his Denver debut on Friday night at home against Sacramento. The Nuggets postponed their game on Wednesday night against Phoenix because of a snowstorm.
No Iverson, and no Chris Webber again, either. Webber missed his third straight game because of a sprained right ankle.
Lakers 111, Timberwolves 94
At Minneapolis, Vladimir Radman-ovic and Maurice Evans combined for 16 points during a 25-2 run in the fourth quarter that rallied Los Angeles past Minnesota.
One night after shooting just 6-of-19 from the floor and fouling out for the first time in more than a year in a loss to Chicago, Kobe Bryant scored 24 points on 10-of-17 shooting. But the Lakers trailed by 10 to start the fourth, and coach Phil Jackson sat Bryant for the first 8 minutes of the quarter to remarkable success.
Radmanovic hit two 3-pointers and Evans punctuated the spurt against his former team with a dunk that gave the Lakers a 100-91 lead with 4:39 to go.
The Timberwolves, especially Kevin Garnett, were stunned. After shooting 62 percent and playing nearly flawless offensive basketball through three quarters, they were outscored 34-7 in the lowest-scoring fourth quarter in franchise history.
In other games, it was: Nets 113, Cavaliers 111; Bucks 121, Heat 95; Spurs 105, Grizzlies 98; Jazz 112, Hawks 106; Magic 86, Hornets 83; Warriors 96, Celtics 95; Knicks 111, Bobcats 109, 2OT; Trail Blazers 89, Rockets 87; Mavericks 103, SuperSonics 95; Raptors 98, Clippers 96.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely