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Out of gas Lakers, injuries prove too much for Iverson, Sixers
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Allen Iverson has the rest of the summer to heal. Already playing through numerous aches and bruises, Iverson had to overcome another injury in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. The league's MVP hurt his right hip in a collision Kobe Bryant in the first quarter, but still scored 37 points. Iverson, however, couldn't lift his team past the Los Angeles Lakers, who beat the 76ers 108-96 Friday night to capture their second consecutive championship. After colliding with Bryant while diving for a loose ball near the end of the first quarter, Iverson, who got his third foul on the play, favored his right side the rest of the game. He winced nearly every time he bumped into somebody and grimaced after most of his shots. It didn't stop him, though. Iverson, desperately trying to spark one final run, nailed a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 96-87 with 4:27 to play. But the Sixers couldn't get any closer than seven the rest of the way. With less than a minute left, the sellout crowd of 20,890 at the First Union Center began chanting "MVP, MVP." When Iverson left the game with 40 seconds remaining, he received a standing ovation, walked over to the bench and hugged head coach Larry Brown. The fans continued their chant. Iverson didn't speak to reporters after the game. He was in the interview room, but left when Bryant went ahead of him after Shaquille O'Neal concluded his interview. "It's what the kid's about," Brown said about Iverson playing through injuries. "He had a phenomenal year. And I think being in this environment on this stage, people really recognize what an unbelievable competitor he is and what a great player. "We would've never been in this position had it not been for his unbelievable play throughout the whole year." It was a fitting ending for Philadelphia, which battled through several injuries to key players throughout the regular season and playoffs. The Sixers went as far as they could on heart and determination. In the end, they were overmatched by the Lakers in the most important area: talent. Dikembe Mutombo, the NBA's defensive player of the year, couldn't stop O'Neal and the Sixers didn't have an answer for Bryant. Derek Fisher and Tyronn Lue continually frustrated Iverson with tight defense and Philadelphia's role players struggled the entire series. Aaron McKie, playing with a chip fracture in his right ankle, reached double digits just once after averaging 16 points over the first three rounds. He had seven points Friday. Tyrone Hill averaged just 4.8 points and 5.0 rebounds in the Finals before getting 18 points and 13 rebounds in Game 5. "Had we won, I couldn't be any more proud of my team," Brown said. "The effort we put forth against a phenomenal team was incredible." Brown was noncommittal when asked if he would return to coach next season. "We're going to sit down and talk. I haven't had time off in two years," said Brown, who spent part of his last two summers coaching the U.S. Olympic team. Philadelphia entered the series as prohibitive underdogs, but stunned the Lakers with a 107-101 overtime victory in the opener. Iverson had 48 points in Game 1, but shot 34-of-89, including 5-of-20 from 3-point range in the next three games, all losses. The Sixers had chances to win Games 2 and 3, but couldn't hit the key shot or make a big stop late in the game. They missed 10 free throws in the fourth quarter of Game 2 and left Robert Horry open for a 3-pointer in the final minute of Game 3. "I'm just enjoying this moment," Mutombo said. "It was a great experience for me." Philadelphia won 56 games, finished with the best record in the East for the first time in 18 years, but struggled in the postseason despite getting to the Finals. The Sixers fell behind 1-0 in their first two series and nearly didn't get past Toronto in the second round. But Vince Carter missed a jumper at the buzzer in Game 7 and the Sixers advanced to the conference finals against Milwaukee. Iverson, however, severely bruised his tailbone in Game 7 against the Raptors. The injury hampered him in the first two games of the Milwaukee series. After winning the opener at home, the Sixers lost two straight to the Bucks and Iverson sat out Game 3. But Iverson returned for Game 4 and the Sixers tied the series before winning it in seven. Forward George Lynch broke his foot during Game 4 of the Toronto series and didn't return until Game 4 of the finals. He injured his toe in the first half of Friday's game and didn't return. ">Eric Snow, who missed 32 games after fracturing his right ankle earlier this season, fractured it in a different spot during Game 4 of the Milwaukee series. But he didn't miss any games.
"It's tough to go down, but we got a taste," Snow said. "We want to get better and we want to win."
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