[3.1.06] Rockets-Sixers Game Recap

Iverson Leads Way For Sixers In 106-101 Victory

By DENNIS L. SILVA, II.
3.1.06


If the Team USA Basketball Committee decides to reverse its decision and include Allen Iverson on its 2008 roster, Iverson should not be permitted to try-out.

All the 6’0” dynamo has to do is submit a tape of his inspired performance against the Houston Rockets.

Iverson scored 40 points, the first time he has eclipsed 40 against a Jeff Van Gundy coached team, Wednesday night as the Sixers deflated a great amount of air out of the Rockets’ playoff hopes with a 106-101 victory at Toyota Center.

Iverson gave Houston a preview of things to come with his electric start to the game.

Penetrating a seemingly disinterested interior defense of the Rockets, Iverson (40 points, 10 assists, 16-29 shooting) scored early and often in the first quarter, setting the tone offensively early. The Sixers employed a “small ball” offensive approach in hopes of taking advantage of their perimeter savvy and quickness against Houston’s athletic bigs.

It worked, as Iverson’s free reign of scoring (17 points in the first half) frustrated the Rockets. Trailing by one point heading into the second period, Houston earned a pair of technical fouls within the first 48 seconds of the quarter, courtesy of Dikembe Mutombo and Rafer Alston. Philadelphia built their lead to 31-23 as they exposed Houston’s porous defense time and time again. The Rockets managed to stay within a reasonable distance thanks to the hustle and effort of Chuck Hayes, as well as some timely offensive rebounding (13 offensive boards).

In the third quarter, the game would experience a brief turn of events.

Tracy McGrady (25 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists), relatively quiet the first half, scored 8 points in the opening three minutes of the third quarter to give Houston a 53-49 lead. From that point, the basket was as big as the ocean. McGrady slashed his way for another easy score and Alston and David Wesley hit consecutive 3-pointers from the left corner to give the Rockets their biggest advantage of the game, 67-56, with just 4:47 remaining in the period.

Iverson would take it upon himself to see that things would not stay the same.

Having cut its deficit to 77-73 heading into the fourth quarter, Philadelphia received a nice scoring contribution from Kyle Korver, who drained three treys to regain the lead for the Sixers at 86-84. The game became a contest of exchanges as Iverson would penetrate for a score, and Hayes (11 points, 4 rebounds) would add a tough inside basket, ensuring a 98-98 tie with less than three minutes remaining.

But the Rockets would see McGrady’s trey as their last basket of the evening as Wesley (1-8 from 3-point range) misfired on trey attempts that could have tied the game at 104. Iverson scored four clutch points, and Webber (21 points, 13 rebounds) scored on a difficult shot in the lane to give Philly its final score of 106-101.

The loss puts the Rockets 4.5 games behind the Lakers for the eighth and final playoff spot. Houston’s next game is Friday night against Denver at Toyota Center.


ROCKETS RECAP

· The Rockets out-rebounded Philadelphia 48-39.
· Yao Ming finished with 22 points and 13 rebounds, but missed three critical baskets late.
· Philly shot 51% (41-79) from the floor.
· The Sixers outscored the Rockets 25-17 in transition.
· Houston shot 6-25 from 3-point territory.

http://www.nba.com/games/20060301/PHIHOU/boxscore.html