Allen Iverson scored 22 points and Dikembe Mutombo led a solid defensive effort as the 76ers pulled away for an 87-77 victory over the Seattle SuperSonics, who had a season-high six-game winning streak snapped.
On Christmas, the 76ers were 11-15 as they began a seven-game, 12-day road trip against the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers. They blew a huge lead in that game and lost two of the next three.
With their season at a make-or-break point, Philadelphia arrived in Phoenix with rumors swirling that coach Larry Brown was going to resign before the end of the trip. Brown refuted the rumors, the Sixers donned headbands and routed the Suns, 102-81.
 Allen Iverson had just three assists, but is averaging more per game than he has since his second year in the league. Jeff Reinking /NBAE/Getty Images |
"Winning three games against quality teams is significant."
"Obviously we're getting better; we're winning games," Iverson said. "Coming into tonight, we we are looking forward to getting to .500 on the trip. This is the first step."
Iverson, the NBA's leading scorer, fueled a balanced attack. Mutombo, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, patrolled the paint with five of Philadelphia's eight blocks.
"Dikembe did a great job blocking shots," Iverson said. "When he wasn't blocking shots, he was causing them to throw up wild shots."
Derrick Coleman added 14 points, 10 rebounds, three blocks and three steals for the Sixers, who have won two of their last three visits to KeyArena after losing seven in a row here.
Rashard Lewis and Shammond Williams scored 15 points apiece for the SuperSonics, who were playing for the first time in six days and looked it. They shot under 38 percent (32-of-85) and had 20 turnovers.
"We looked as if we had been off," Sonics coach Nate McMillan said. "Our execution wasn't as sharp as it was before we took this break."
Led by rookie Speedy Claxton, the guards of the Sixers did a terrific job on Sonics All-Star guard Gary Payton, who scored just 13 points on 6-of-15 shooting.
"I thought Speedy and Aaron (McKie) were great," Brown said.
"I think Speedy Claxton did a great job on GP," Iverson said.
Philadelphia led virtually the entire game, taking the lead for good at 5-2 on Coleman's three-point play less than two minutes into the contest. He scored nine points in the first quarter, which ended with the Sixers holding a 25-20 lead.
Iverson scored eight points in the second period as the Sixers extended the lead to 49-40 at halftime before taking control in the third quarter.
"Deke started to get control defensively late in the first half," Brown said. "We didn't put them on the free throw line. We got them to shoot a lot of perimeter shots. In the third quarter, we got to run a little bit off their misses and we need to get cheap baskets."
A jumper by Rashard Lewis had Seattle within 62-53 with 4:49 to play before Mutombo had two free throws and a dunk to start an 8-1 surge. Claxton's runner made it 70-54 with 1:54 remaining.
Iverson's two baskets capped a 9-0 spree that gave the Sixers an 80-61 lead with 7:55 to play. Iverson, Claxton and Eric Snow had three steals each.
"We've just got to understand that we've got to get it done defensively," Iverson said. "I'm the most aggressive offensive player on our team but even I have to step up and be one of the best defensive players as well."
Matt Harpring scored 14 points and McKie had 12 for the Sixers, who shot 43 percent (33-of-77) and made 17-of-23 free throws.
Seattle made just 6-of-14 free throws.