Gervin, McAdoo Pelted in Rome

George Gervin and Bob McAdoo, two former National Basketball Assn. stars, got a rude jolt Sunday night during Gervin’s Italian professional league debut at Rome.

With 24 seconds to play in overtime, and Gervin’s Banco di Roma team trailing McAdoo’s Tracer of Milan by seven points, the fans at the Paleur pelted the court with coins and other debris.

As the players covered their heads with towels and took refuge on the glass-enclosed sideline benches, the referees decided to suspend the game and declared Tracer the winner, 104-97.

Neither of the ex-NBA stars was hit, but a Milan player and a team official were struck by coins.

Both teams left the court running through a glass-covered runway to the locker rooms.

“I was scared for my life,” said Gervin, former San Antonio Spurs star. “I was on the floor and put a towel on my head. It was dangerous. I hope they don’t do that anymore.”

The Gervin-McAdoo matchup did not live up to the billing by the Italian media. Gervin, 34, made only 6 of 20 shots and finished with 14 points. McAdoo, 35, scored 12 points.