Iverson shines as 76ers clock Pistons
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-03-24 14:36

Allen Iverson toyed with Detroit's unusually anemic defense, finishing with 39 points and 10 assists in the Philadelphia 76ers' 107-84 win over the Pistons on Wednesday night.

Philadelphia 76ers guard Allen Iverson (L) heads to the hoop as the Detroit Pistons center Ben Wallace defends during third quarter NBA action in Philadelphia, March 23, 2005. [AP]

Andre Iguodala played 42 minutes and was in the game until the final buzzer, long enough to get a triple-double with 10 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. It was the first triple-double by a rookie since Kirk Hinrich on Feb. 28, 2004.

Coach Larry Brown can't come back soon enough for the Pistons, who looked downright sluggish in their second road loss in two nights after winning five straight.

The Pistons entered the game ranked second in the league in fewest points allowed with 89.4. Detroit's opponents were shooting 43 percent. That all went out the window early against the Sixers, who made their first eight shots, then nine of their first 10 and led by 14 points in the first quarter.

Iverson was at his best, getting involved in every possible way. He had some hustle steals, nifty passes and crowd-pleasing fastbreaks.

He picked off one pass at the top of Detroit's 3-point arc and finished with an easy layup. He also got out of double-team in the lane with a hard pass around one defender to Samuel Dalembert for a reverse dunk.

Iverson stretched over two defenders for a running layup that left some Pistons shaking their heads, and he lobbed a high pass to a streaking Iguodala on the left side for a thunderous alley-oop.

Iverson and Iguodala had some help in keeping the Sixers in the eighth spot of the Eastern Conference playoff chase. Chris Webber had 19 points and Samuel Dalembert added 11. The Sixers shot 54 percent and had 27 assists on 41 baskets.

Detroit was without leading scorer Richard Hamilton, who was out with a sprained left ankle. Rookie guard Carlos Delfino made his second start in place of Hamilton and scored three points.

Rasheed Wallace scored 17 points and Chauncey Billups had 15 for the Pistons, who were coming off a 91-76 loss Tuesday at Cleveland.

The Pistons fell behind early and never recovered, unable to make any significant run to challenge Philadelphia.

When the Sixers went up 23 late in the second half, team chairman Ed Snider got up from his courtside seat for a standing ovation and Iverson mouthed the lyrics to Kool and the Gang's "Get Down On It," coming out of a timeout.

The celebration was on.

Even Brown would have appreciated Iverson's performance. Brown spent six often-turbulent seasons in Philadelphia, often clashing with Iverson during his tenure with the team.

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