Allen Iverson played one of his best offensive games of the season on Thursday, scoring 39 points to lead the struggling Philadelphia 76ers past the weary and depleted Los Angeles Lakers 96-73.
In a game that stayed competitive for only a few minutes, Iverson had his way against defender Derek Fisher and repeatedly freed himself for mid-range jumpers and drives. Iverson shot 15-for-29 from the field -- missing his final four shots -- and added six assists in one of the 76ers' most lopsided victories of the season.
"I tried to make sure I led by example," Iverson said. "I saw guys were trying to get things done the right way."
PHOTO: REUTERS
The Lakers, playing their fourth road game in five nights and extra tired after arriving in Philadelphia around 4am local time, lost Gary Payton to an ejection in a first quarter in which they scored just 10 points -- matching their season low set earlier this week at Indiana.
Shaquille O'Neal missed 11 of 13 foul shots in the first half, finishing 3-for-15 from the line with 17 points.
"We just had dead legs tonight. It was just obvious we didn't have any zip out there at all," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "This is not a low point. They're not depressed about it. They just had a bad game."
PHOTO: AP
The Lakers were supposed to be joined by Kobe Bryant, who is on the injured list with a lacerated finger. But Bryant defied coach Phil Jackson and did not show up, leaving the team wondering about his whereabouts until shortly before game time.
Bryant's agent later informed the Lakers that Bryant would join them in Orlando, the fifth stop of the Lakers' seven-game road trip.
In Cleveland a day earlier Jackson originally said Bryant would join the team in Orlando -- in part to spare him from being the target of taunts from fans in Philadelphia.
But Jackson later changed his mind and said Bryant, on the injured list with a lacerated index finger, would join the Lakers in Philadelphia.
Jackson said Bryant was supposed to be on a plane from Los Angeles that was to arrive between 4pm and 5pm, but no one on the Lakers had heard from him by the time Jackson addressed reporters at 6pm -- 90 minutes before tipoff.
"It's good for him to be with us here. He can have a couple days to be with us in this situation, join his teammates, see how we're playing, see firsthand what we're going through right now as far as the way we're playing the game," Jackson said. "He's supportive, and his teammates are supportive of him, so it's kind of a catch-up point."
Bryant, who attended high school in a local suburb, has been the target of boos and taunts in Philadelphia since the Lakers and 76ers met in the 2001 NBA Finals. The booing was worst during the 2002 All-Star game when Bryant was named the MVP of that game.
"I think being booed is the ultimate sign of respect," said teammate Shaquille O'Neal, who quizzed reporters on whether Bryant had shown up.
Spurs 96, SuperSonics 90
In Seattle, Tim Duncan had 23 points and 14 rebounds, and Tony Parker added 18 points to lead San Antonio over Seattle.
The Spurs beat the Sonics for the fifth straight time, sending Seattle to its fifth loss in six games. San Antonio, making the second stop on a seven-game road trip, has won four in a row in Seattle.
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