Iverson's first game resulted in the first win of the season for the Sixers, who used a balanced attack and a huge advantage on the backboards for a 98-91 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday.
 Aaron McKie and the Sixers never trailed in tallying their first victory. Glenn James/NBAE/Getty Images from 76ers-Mavericks: 56k | 300k |
"It's all right," Iverson said of his elbow, which has bothered him in each of the last two seasons. "I thought it would be a little more sore. Fortunately, it's not. I think it comes from all that 'blessed oil' my mom rubbed on it before the game."
From the opening tip, Iverson's presence was undeniable. He found Matt Harpring with a lob pass for the game's first points and Philadelphia never trailed thereafter.
The 76ers clearly were energized by Iverson. They got out on the break, attacked the offensive backboard and cheated the passing lanes, all elements of last season's run to the NBA Finals.
Iverson collected 18 points and nine assists. He did not have his legs as he left many jumpers short and finished just 7-of-28 from the field. But he made four baskets in the fourth quarter, helping turn back a rally by the Mavericks.
"He played great," Sixers coach Larry Brown said. "He has no shot because he can hardly straighten his arm yet, but he had nine assists. He had four defensive rebounds, and he's a threat to score, which opens it up for everybody else."
"My shot's not there because my legs aren't there," Iverson said. "I don't believe it's because of my elbow. It's because of my legs. My legs aren't as strong as I would like them to be. Plus my elbow isn't as strong as I want it to be. But I'm getting there."
Dallas had to honor Iverson's quickness and Philadelphia had a season high in points and a 54-38 rebounding advantage.
"Our main objective with Dikembe and I out there is to rebound," Coleman said. "I think he and I on the court makes us one of the best rebounding teams in the league."
Aaron McKie, playing just his second game since returning from shoulder surgery, scored 19 points.
"We're learning on the fly because there's a lot of new people," Brown said. "Anytime you get key people back, a kid as
competitive as Aaron, a kid as competitive as Allen, it makes it easy for everybody."
"When you are struggling and trying to get that (first) win, it takes so much out of you," McKie said. "You're just fighting so hard. Now that we got this one under our belt, the pressure is off."
Dirk Nowitzki had 25 points and 10 rebounds and Steve Nash had 22 and 10 assists for the Mavs, who lost at home for the first time this season and have not beaten the Sixers in Dallas since Dec. 5, 1996.
After Nash's three-point play made it 82-78 with 7:35 to play,
McKie and Iverson made jumpers to double the lead midway through
the fourth quarter.
Nowitzki made three free throws, but McKie drilled a 3-pointer.
Michael Finley hit a 3-pointer, but Iverson hit a jumper off the
dribble and Mutombo made a follow shot for a 93-84 lead with
2:59 left. Iverson's three-point play sealed it with 1:08 to
go.
"It's tough. It's a lot of work, a lot of energy because you
have to stay on him," Nash said. "Great players exploit any
opening, so you have to stay on him the whole time. He's a
tremendous player."
Iverson had another nifty pass in the first quarter, a blind
over-the-shoulder job to a cutting McKie for a fast-break layup
that made it 15-7. His free throw gave Philadelphia a 25-10
lead before it settled for a 29-17 advantage after one quarter.
"I've been waiting to get back to help them," Iverson said. "I
saw spots in games where they doubled DC (Coleman) or they
doubled Aaron. If I was in the game I didn't think they would
do it that much. Once I'm out there, my guys are able to do
some things."
The Mavs pulled within a point in the second period, but the
Sixers scored seven of the last nine points to open a 52-43
bulge. Nowitzki scored nine points in the third quarter as
Dallas closed to 71-68 entering the final period.
Philadelphia shot 46 percent (41-of-89) while holding Dallas to
just 38 percent (30-of-79). Finley was 5-of-21 and Nowitzki was
5-of-18.