Preview - Box Score - Recap
By CHRIS SHERIDAN, AP Basketball Writer
April 20, 2003
AP - Apr 20, 10:01 EDT
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**PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Of all the prolific offensive performances in the opening games of this year’s NBA playoffs, Allen Iverson’s was the best.
Not only that, it was one of the greatest in NBA playoff history
Iverson scored 55 points Sunday night in a brilliant display of shooting, making 21 of 32 shots while eclipsing his previous playoff-high of 54 as the Philadelphia 76ers defeated the New Orleans Hornets 98-90.
Iverson scored 20 in the fourth quarter to help the 76ers hang onto the lead throughout the final 12 minutes of a closely contested, physical game.
Iverson joined Michael Jordan, Rick Barry, Charles Barkley, Wilt Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor as the only players to score 55 or more in a playoff game. Jordan holds the NBA record of 63.
Just two days into the postseason, there had already been a 46-point performance by Dirk Nowitzki of Dallas and a 43-point outing by Orlando’s Tracy McGrady. **
Iverson outdid them by a bunch, hitting nearly everything he tossed up with the exception of a stretch of five consecutive misses during the third quarter.
``I caught a rhythm. The basket looked like an ocean,‘’ Iverson said.
With Philadelphia clinging to a two-point lead, Iverson came off a pick from Keith Van Horn and hit a 3 to make it 89-84. On Philadelphia’s next possession, he dribble-faked Stacey Augmon off-balance, stepped back and hit another 3 to reach 51 points and give the Sixers a 92-84 lead with three minutes left.
After the Hornets pulled to 94-90, Iverson used his lightning speed to drive around George Lynch for a layup that gave him his final points with 37.3 seconds left.
Iverson reached 50 points for the third time in 46 career playoff games. It was his ninth game with at least 40.
Iverson reached 30 points just 3 1/2 minutes into the third quarter, but he missed his next five shots while being defended by Augmon before hitting a 3-pointer that gave the 76ers a 70-68 lead entering the fourth period.
Iverson then made his first four shots of the final quarter.
AP - Apr 20, 9:55 EDT
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Eric Snow added 15 points and Aaron McKie 12 for Philadelphia.
Jamal Mashburn led the Hornets with 28.
Iverson had six assists in the first quarter, the last of which was the niftiest. Iverson tossed an around-the-back pass to Tyrone Hill at the foul line, and Hill gave it back and made a backdoor cut. Iverson found him instantly, threading a pass to Hill right under the basket for a dunk that gave the 76ers a 25-18 lead.
Iverson took a brief rest early in the second quarter, and New Orleans had a 13-0 run to go ahead 33-29. The remainder of the quarter turned into a foul-shooting exhibition as the Hornets were whistled for 13 fouls and Philadelphia scored 14 points at the line to overcome 4-for-18 shooting.
Snow drew charges on David Wesley and Baron Davis on consecutive possessions, forcing both to the bench with their third fouls with more than three minutes left before the half. Philadelphia led 49-44 at intermissionbehind Iverson’s 25 points.
Notes
Iverson’s overall career high is 58 on Jan. 15, 2002 against Houston. … Iverson scored or assisted on Philadelphia’s first 14 field goals. … Van Horn shot for 1-for-8 in his first playoff game with the Sixers, missing his final six shots – the crowd groaning increasingly louder on the last three. … Wesley finished with five fouls and five points. … Derrick Coleman had fivefouls and four points.
