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Good news, bad news Sixers' McKie to play against Rockets; Iverson still out
Updated: Thursday November 08, 2001 5:17 PM
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Help is on the way for the Philadelphia 76ers. Aaron McKie, out since having surgery on his right shoulder on Sept. 25, was expected to return to the lineup when the winless Sixers played the Houston Rockets on Thursday night. The defending Eastern Conference champions are off to an 0-4 start. But they've been without McKie, Allen Iverson and Eric Snow. Iverson, the NBA's MVP, had surgery on his right elbow the same day as McKie. He was expected to return to the lineup before McKie, but won't play against the Rockets. Snow broke his thumb in the first preseason game he played and is out for up to three months. Without Iverson, McKie, and Snow, Philadelphia's offense has struggled. The Sixers are averaging 79.8 points and have 78 turnovers, 34 more than their opponents. Iverson (31.1), McKie (11.6) and Snow (9.8) scored 55 percent of the team's 94.7 points last season. Because of all the injuries, coach Larry Brown has been forced to start Speedy Claxton and Raja Bell in the backcourt. Claxton sat out his rookie year last season with a knee injury. Bell had played 20 games, including the playoffs. McKie, the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year, averaged career highs in points, rebounds (4.1), assists (five), steals (1.39) and minutes (31.5) last season. He started 33 of the 76 games he played mainly because of injuries to Snow. A Philadelphia native who went to Temple, McKie averaged 14.6 points in the playoffs, helping the Sixers reach the NBA Finals for the first time in 18 years. He signed a seven-year deal worth up to $42 million in July. Last year, the Sixers opened with a franchise-best 10 straight wins and didn't lose their fourth game until Dec. 5, the 18th game of the season.
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