Iverson Lives Up to Expectations

Philadelphia Coach Larry Brown expects greatness from second-year point guard Allen Iverson. That’s just about what Brown got Thursday night.

Iverson scored 31 points, including a key three-point shot with 1:37 left, and the 76ers handed the Dallas Mavericks their fourth consecutive defeat, 99-98, at Dallas.

Iverson added six assists and four steals and his drives to the basket forced two Mavericks who were guarding him, Khalid Reeves and Erick Strickland, to foul out.

“I want him to be perfect every night,” Brown said. “Tonight he made some big plays with the game on the line. I don’t even care about the 31 points. I want him to run the club and defend. He’s making great progress. Tonight he was phenomenal.”

Iverson said he was pleased that Brown, a one-time point guard, took over the 76ers.

“He’s a tough coach on a point guard, but that’s what I wanted,” Iverson said. “I want him to be on me to make me better.”

Jerry Stackhouse added 21 points and made a three-point shot with 2:20 left to give the 76ers the lead for good, 90-88. Iverson’s three-point basket on Philadelphia’s next possession extended the 76ers’ lead to 93-88.

Derrick Coleman contributed 25 points and 14 rebounds for the 76ers, who won their first game of the season Wednesday night at Houston following an 0-5 start.

Washington 91, Minnesota 88--Rod Strickland scored six of his 21 points in overtime, redeeming himself for two missed shots at the end of regulation, to spark the Wizards at Minneapolis.

Tom Gugliotta of the Timberwolves had his worst shooting night of the season, making only four of 23 to finish with a season-low 13 points. Kevin Garnett had the first 20-20 night of his career, scoring 20 points and a grabbing 20 rebounds.

Cleveland 85, New Jersey 74--Sam Cassell scored 32 points for the injury-depleted Nets at East Rutherford, N.J., but they still lost their second in a row following four consecutive victories to open the season.

The Nets had only nine players available and lost forward Chris Gatling with a sprained right ankle in the third quarter.

Wesley Person scored 20 points, including eight during a 10-0 run to close the third quarter, to lead the Cavaliers. Zydrunas Ilgauskas also scored 20.

Seattle 95, Detroit 89--The SuperSonics withstood a 16-5 run by the Bucks late in the fourth quarter to win at Seattle.

Lindsey Hunter’s three-point basket cut Seattle’s lead to 90-89 with 2:05 left, but Gary Payton made two free throws with 1:53 left to extend the lead to 92-89. Payton had 25 points, nine rebounds and nine assists.

Aaron McKie missed a shot from the corner with 45 seconds left and Detlef Schrempf made two free throws with 24 seconds left to clinch the victory.