Iverson’s 46 Not Enough

Allen Iverson’s highest scoring game since his rookie year wasn’t enough to keep the Philadelphia 76ers undefeated.

Iverson scored 46 points, tying Grant Hill for the most in an NBA game this season, but it was San Antonio reserve Malik Rose who had a career game as the Spurs ended a three-game losing streak by beating the 76ers, 98-94, Friday night at Philadelphia.

Rose scored 22 points, making 10 of 12 shots, to help the Spurs overcome a horrendous foul shooting performance (28 of 51) and a below-average night from David Robinson and Tim Duncan.

“Nervous is an understatement. I was very nervous,” said Rose, a third-year pro who played his college ball in Philadelphia at Drexel and purchased 64 tickets for the game. “I was kind of dreading this game because I had to spend a lot of money on the tickets, and historically I haven’t played well here.”

Iverson made 14 of 26 from the field and 15 of 17 at the line in scoring 40 or more points for the seventh time in his career. He did it five times his rookie season, including a career-high 50 points, and once last season, getting 43.

“It would have been better to have a one-point performance and win than score 40 points and lose,” Iverson said. “We felt we could come back. You don’t start 3-0 and then lose confidence when you get down.”

Avery Johnson, Robinson and Duncan each scored 15 points for San Antonio.

Denver 100, Dallas 94--Nick Van Exel scored 27 points and Antonio McDyess added 23 at Denver as the Nuggets won for the first time in five games this season.

Van Exel, who was three for 19 from the field in Wednesday’s loss to the Lakers, was 10 for 18 against the Mavericks, including four of seven on three-pointers.

Michael Finley scored 28 points for Dallas, which lost for the second consecutive night.

Utah 97, Golden State 81--Karl Malone scored a season-high 35 points and the unbeaten Jazz extended the best start in its 25-year history with a victory at Oakland.

Utah improved to 5-0 with its ninth consecutive win over Golden State.

The Warriors remained winless, falling to 0-5. They began 0-10 last season.

NBA Notes

Mark Price, the NBA’s all-time leader in free-throw percentage at 90.4%, announced his retirement, ending a 12-year career that included four All-Star games, a spot on Dream Team II and some memorable battles with Michael Jordan. “You have to know when to say when, and now is the perfect time,” said Price, 35. “It makes me feel good to step down when it’s my choice and not because nobody wants me.” . . . Miami Heat guard Voshon Lenard, diagnosed in training camp with a stress fracture in his left leg, underwent surgery Friday to repair the injury. He is expected to be out at least eight weeks and, with the NBA’s abbreviated schedule, could miss the entire regular season.