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Sixers outlast Bucks in OT Iverson scores 45 as Philadelphia tops Milwaukee 124-120
Posted: Tuesday January 04, 2000 01:59 AM
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Allen Iverson took more shots than he'd ever launched in his career Monday night. Imagine if he hadn't been sick. After missing the morning shootaround because he didn't feel well, Iverson scored 45 points on a career-high 38 shots as the Philadelphia 76ers survived a frantic overtime to beat the Milwaukee Bucks 124-120. "I'm so tired I really can't even analyze the game," said Iverson, who surpassed his career high for field-goal attempts by two. "I missed shootaround because I wasn't feeling well. At times on the court, I felt like I was going to die." Ray Allen was exhausted just watching Iverson, who personifies a term normally used for football: Run and shoot. "I don't think I could take 38 shots," said Allen, who had 25 points. "I mean, it's just too much energy." Iverson was only 1-for-5 in OT, but Allen's running jumper and Scott Williams' tip-in attempt both rimmed out as the Bucks failed to make a second stunning comeback.
Former Sixer Tim Thomas sent it to overtime with a 3-pointer that tied it at 115 with 3.4 seconds left in regulation. After Iverson hit a running hook shot for the first basket of OT, Thomas hit another 3-pointer to make it 118-117. Tyrone Hill and Matt Geiger provided crucial inside baskets to give Philadelphia a 122-118 lead with two minutes left, but Allen made a pullup jumper to cut it to 122-120. Allen, who had only seven of his 25 points after the third quarter, saw his runner somehow come off the rim. Williams, a former Sixer who heard boos and taunts all night, had his tip-in attempt curl off the same way. "I was hoping it was going in," Allen said. "We had a good shot at it." Iverson was 16-for-38 from the field and scored 40-plus points for the second time in six games, third time this season and 11th time in his career. The Sixers are 2-9 when he scores 40 or more, including 1-2 this season. "It's been kind of a jinx," Iverson said.
Iverson was one point shy of his own NBA season high and five shy of his career high of 50. A 90-percent foul shooter, Iverson might've had a new career high if not for missing seven of 18 free throws. While Iverson made his mark with shooting, Bucks coach George Karl probably will be writing a check to the NBA soon. He lost it while pleading for a jump ball when Vinny Del Negro was called for fouling Eric Snow on an inbounds with 10.4 seconds left, then held nothing back in the postgame interview. "We weren't trying to foul Eric Snow," Karl said. "Eric Snow got tied up. There was no contact. It was a joke how the referees got caught up in the momentum of the game. It was I mean, the effort we put in to be disrespected the way the referees disrespected us was incredible. "We played good, they played good. The game shouldn't be decided by the referees." Snow, who said he called for a timeout as soon as he ended up with the ball, and Aaron McKie each hit a free throw. The Bucks turned the ball over on a bad pass by Glenn Robinson that went off Williams' hands. Allen missed a long jumper and got his own rebound as time expired, and the player whose first name is Allen prevailed. "We had no chance, and he had that run and made some big shots," Sixers coach Larry Brown said. "He must be exhausted. He'll probably say he isn't. Maybe he'll let me substitute him now." Hill, acquired from Milwaukee last season for Thomas and Williams, had 22 points and nine rebounds. Snow had a career-high 15 assists, 13 points and no turnovers. "It's hard for me to ever want to play point guard again if this guy's on my team, because I know I know I'm not a better point guard than him," Iverson said. Robinson and Allen each scored 25 for Milwaukee, and Sam Cassell had 23 points and 11 assists. After Snow and Iverson seemingly iced it with four free throws, Thomas dribbled the length of the court and pulled up for a 3-pointer that tied it at 115 with 3.4 seconds left. Notes: Thomas had 18 points and four turnovers and shut down Iverson in overtime. ... Williams, a favorite target of Philly boo-birds, heard it early and often. Thinking he was fouled on a putback in the second quarter, he tossed the ball hard at referee Tommy Nunez and glared at him. ... Robinson and Allen had 23 of Milwaukee's 31 points in the third quarter - 13 for Allen and 10 for Robinson.
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