Mutombo had 10 blocked shots in a triple-double and tied an NBA record as the Philadelphia 76ers smothered the Bulls, 93-76, for their eighth win in 10 games.
"I was feeling pretty good tonight and I know that I really might have intimidated some of their players underneath," Mutombo said. "It's just a good game for me and our team."
 Allen Iverson prevents Bulls from winning two in a row. |
Mutombo's 10th career triple-double also featured 16 points and 19 rebounds. But the 7-2 All-Star center wowed the crowd at the United Center with the blocks, including eight in the third quarter.
That tied the all-time NBA mark set by Manute Bol, who did it for Washington against Milwaukee on December 12, 1985 and again vs. Indiana on February 26, 1987.
"I knew he had a lot of blocks, but I didn't realize he had 10," teammate Allen Iverson said. "That's the Dikembe we need to get back in there. He's blocking shots, scoring and then we know he'll be getting rebounds for us, too."
"He was phenomenal," 76ers coach Larry Brown added. "Dikembe just dominated the defensive boards and played strong perimeter defense. He altered their shots and got just about every rebound."
Mutombo teamed with Iverson to fuel a 14-0 surge in the first quarter that gave Philadelphia a 27-6 lead. The 76ers led 31-11 after one period and by at least 12 points thereafter.
Iverson scored 30 points for the Sixers, who were without forward Derrick Coleman (sprained ankle) and lost guard Aaron McKie to shortness of breath in the second quarter.
The Bulls (2-13) were coming off their second win of the season, a 78-72 triumph over Miami. But they could not put together victories and lost at home to the Sixers for the fifth straight time.
The Sixers raced to a 13-2 lead. Iverson scored six points and Mutombo five in the 14-0 run that made it 27-6 late in the first quarter.
Philadelphia led by 24 points midway through the second period before Chicago closed to 52-40 in the final minute. But Iverson scored two baskets to close the half and Matt Harpring had two to open the third quarter, rebuilding the lead to 20 points.
Then Mutombo went wild. In the period, he blocked shots by Brad Miller (three), rookie Trenton Hassell, rookie Eddy Curry (two) and Ron Mercer (two).
"After blocking four or five, I thought they would find a way to shoot around me," Mutombo said. "I didn't think they would keep challenging me in the same way. They kept coming at me in the same way, and that's what made it easy for me."
In the third quarter, the Bulls had just eight points and seven turnovers. They also became totally unglued as Miller kicked a chair as he left the court.
"Dikembe is very good at what he does," Bulls veteran guard Greg Anthony said. "You really have to have an understanding of what his strengths are and play away from those."
"Our problems were a combination of turnovers and not great shot selection," Floyd added.
In the fourth quarter, Mutombo took a an inadvertent shot to the face from Bulls 7-footer Dalibor Bagaric. Mutombo thought it was intentional.
"I certainly paid the price for it when they brought in their big guy and he hit me in the face," Mutombo said. "I don't know what's going on with these young guys in the NBA, but that's not how you play when somebody's dominating you. You shouldn't try to hurt anybody."
Harpring had 16 points and nine rebounds for the Sixers, who shot 45 percent (38-of-84) from the field and held a 53-37 rebounding advantage.
A.J. Guyton scored 14 points fellow reserve Marcus Fizer added 13 for the Bulls, who shot under 35 percent (30-of-86).