Tireless Iverson Puts the Hurt on Wizards

The Philadelphia 76ers were playing back-to-back at the end of a three-game trip but still out-hustled the Washington Wizards in a 104-91 victory Monday night at Washington.

Allen Iverson, the league’s leading scorer, had 38 points and six assists. The 76ers, winners of five in a row, had 13 offensive rebounds to Washington’s five, converting them into 12 second-chance points to only two for the Wizards. Iverson had three of the team’s 13 steals.

“We’re just playing better defense, man,” Iverson said. “When coach usually talks about it, we used to listen, but we weren’t hearing it. Now we understand. At one point, I was sitting on the bench, I saw how they were scrapping and stuff, they looked like hyenas out there. I just got a charge watching them.”

Iverson, 13 for 24 from the field, was his usual bundle of energy as he dived for loose balls and fought for rebounds. He had 25 points by halftime.

Wizard Coach Bernie Bickerstaff was sick with flu and missed the game.

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Seattle 105, Sacramento 102--Gary Payton had 10 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter, including a pair of free throws with 1:34 left to break a tie as the SuperSonics won at Sacramento.

Payton also had 12 assists and 10 rebounds. Vin Baker added a season-high 31 points for Seattle, which trailed by 14 points in the third period.

King center Vlade Divac was ejected with 4:05 left after getting his second technical for arguing with Baker and SuperSonic teammate Aaron Williams.

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New York 85, Cleveland 78--The Cavaliers shot 29.2%, making only 21 field goals, as they lost to the Knicks at New York. The Cavaliers saved face by making 36 of 43 free throws.

Patrick Ewing led the Knicks with 16 points, 12 rebounds and four blocked shots.

The Knicks’ Latrell Sprewell was cleared to return to practice for the Knicks after spending three weeks sidelined because of a stress fracture of his right heel. He might return to the lineup Friday.

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Orlando 70, Atlanta 67--Penny Hardaway nearly had a triple-double with 19 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists and the Atlantic Division-leading Magic overcame poor shooting and mistakes down the stretch to beat the Hawks at Orlando, Fla.

Hardaway made four free throws in the final 2:48 and also blocked a shot and grabbed a crucial rebound after nearly costing the Magic a chance for victory with a bad inbounds pass.

Dikembe Mutombo had 23 points and 12 rebounds for Atlanta.

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New Jersey 99, Boston 97--Keith Van Horn’s short jumper bounced straight up off the rim and fell through as time expired to lift the struggling Nets to a victory at Boston.

Van Horn, who finished with 20 points, grabbed Eric Murdock’s miss, turned and fired up what appeared to be a short shot.

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Charlotte 91, Toronto 88--Derrick Coleman made the go-ahead free throw with 16.8 seconds left and then rejected a driving layup by Doug Christie in the closing seconds to give the Hornets a victory over the Raptors at Charlotte. Coleman finished with 24 points and 12 rebounds.