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Weekend sweep Iverson, Sixers beat Raptors for second time in three daysPosted: Sunday November 24, 2002 4:24 PMUpdated: Sunday November 24, 2002 5:49 PM
TORONTO (AP) -- Judging by the standings, the Philadelphia 76ers' blockbuster trade over the summer with the New Jersey Nets has worked out well for both teams. Allen Iverson scored 37 points, and Keith Van Horn had 19 points and nine rebounds Sunday to lead the 76ers past the Toronto Raptors 94-84 for their third straight victory. The Sixers, who acquired Van Horn and Todd MacCulloch in exchange for Dikembe Mutombo, have won five of six and are tied with New Jersey for first in the Atlantic Division. "Everybody thinks it was such a bad trade," Iverson said. "We feel good about the trade. By people picking us not to get in the playoffs or being one of the last seeds, it feels good because it takes the pressure off you. "That's what we want. We want to be the ones not talked about and then at the end of the season have to be talked about." Iverson, who has scored 30 or more points in each of his last four games, had 23 in the second half. "Honestly, I think we are a better team than the team that went to the Finals two years ago," Iverson said. "When we went to the Finals we had a nice bench, but I think this bench is better. "I think our chemistry is a little better. On the Finals team, we relied so much on Dikembe to bail us out all the time. But now we don't have the luxury inside anymore, so we rely on each other defensively. It helps us because we don't just put the pressure on one guy." Alvin Williams scored a team-high 25 points for the short-handed Raptors, who have lost five straight. Toronto is 3-7 without All-Star forward Vince Carter, who could return to the Raptors lineup as soon as Wednesday after being cleared to play by a doctor this weekend. Carter is recovering from a strained quadriceps tendon in his left knee. "I've never been a go-to guy," Williams said. Williams scored six points, and Morris Peterson added four as Toronto began the second half with a 10-2 run to tie it at 53. Iverson then scored nine of the Sixers' 15 third-quarter points, and Philadelphia entered the fourth quarter with 66-63 lead. Van Horn and Iverson each had six points as Philadelphia began the fourth on a 14-4 run. The Raptors went over five minutes without scoring from the field. Williams later scored six straight points to cut the lead to six, but Iverson followed with a layup and a jumper. His two free throws gave Philadelphia a 89-82 lead with 29 seconds left. "Allen had a tremendous game," Philadelphia coach Larry Brown said. "He's working so hard defensively." Iverson had 14 points to help the 76ers lead 51-43 at halftime. Williams made a spectacular block on Eric Snow's layup attempt with 0.6 seconds left in the half, but Aaron McKie followed with a buzzer-beating 22-foot jumper. The officials used video replay to confirm the basket.
Notes: Tim Montgomery, owner of the world record for 100 meters,
and girlfriend Marion Jones, who won five medals at the 2000 Summer
Olympics, sat courtside. ... Carter traveled to Alabama over the
weekend for a checkup. ... The 76ers also beat Toronto in
Philadelphia on Friday night. ... Philadelphia outscored Toronto
40-26 in the paint.
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