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| Sixers coach Larry Brown kept his Sixers close, but Tim Hardaway's 22-footer was the clincher Tuesday. AP Photos |
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Tim Hardaway sank a 22-footer with 5.6 seconds left for the winning margin.
Iverson scored 41 points, but the Heat shut him out in the frantic final 1:52. As time ran out, Aaron McKie was short on a 25-foot attempt that would have won the game while Iverson stood on the other side of the court, blanketed by Bruce Bowen.
"The way Allen was going, I would have liked to have gotten it in his hands," 76ers coach Larry Brown said. "It probably would have helped, but they did a good job of taking it away from him."
The Heat won their fourth game in a row and improved to 5-3 since Mourning returned after missing the first 69 games because of a kidney ailment.
"We have a huge window of opportunity to get to that championship level," Mourning said. "If we just stay the course, the sky's the limit."
The All-Star center's point and rebound totals were season-highs.
"I'm thrilled he's back," a gracious Brown said. "He was just sensational."
Iverson went 14-for-28, but the 76ers fell to 5-5 when he scores at least 40 points. His final basket put Philadelphia ahead 79-77, but his only shot the rest of the game was blocked by Mourning.
"They really wanted this game," Iverson said. "I don't blame them. They're in the process of getting their chemistry right."
Heat guard Eddie Jones returned after missing 15 games with a dislocated left shoulder. He came off the bench in the second quarter and was briefly in the lineup with Mourning for the first time this season, but he played only nine minutes, went 0-for-3 and did not score.
"I've just got to get my rhythm back," Jones said. "I probably looked like trash, but it felt great to be out there."
The victory was Miami's first in four games this season against the 76ers, who supplanted the Heat this year as Atlantic Division champions.
"That's going to be the nature of the Eastern Conference playoffs," Heat coach Pat Riley said. "The games are going to be close and hotly contested."
Philadelphia could meet the Heat again as early as the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs if Miami falls to fourth place in the conference. The Heat currently hold a one-game lead over the fourth-place New York Knicks.
"It would be great for basketball to have a series like this," Brown said. "But anybody who would wish to meet them is nuts."
Miami tied the score at 75, 77 and then 79 on a bank shot by Mourning with 1:43 left. Anthony Mason scored to put the Heat ahead 81-79, but after Hardaway and Mason missed shots on the next Miami possession, Dikembe Mutombo hit a layup with 17.5 seconds left to tie the game again. He was fouled but missed the free throw, and Miami called timeout.
On the ensuing possession, Mason kicked the ball out to Hardaway, who hit a jumper over Eric Snow.
"He has made so many during his time," Snow said. "He pushed off and made the shot with a hand in his face. Give him credit."
"I like doing that," Hardaway said. "I like taking big shots."
Iverson sank a 3-pointer, drew a foul on the shot and made the free throw to put the 76ers up 68-63 with eight minutes left. No foul was called on the next trip down the floor when Iverson was accidentally hit in the face by Anthony Carter. He pulled away in pain while cradling the ball, then threw in another 3-pointer.
Iverson backpedaled up the court waving both hands disdainfully toward the officials and saying, "It don't matter. It don't matter."
Notes: Philadelphia center Matt Geiger didn't dress because of swelling in his right knee. ... Iverson came within two points of the AmericanAirlines Arena scoring record set by Mourning in February 2000. ... Philadelphia had won the previous three meetings by an average of 11 points.