Iverson Injured in Loss to Knicks

The New York Knicks got a big measure of revenge Friday night against the Philadelphia 76ers, who have yet another crisis on their hands--an injury that could sideline Allen Iverson for up to a month.

Allan Houston scored 27 points and Latrell Sprewell added 20 as the Knicks ended a two-game losing streak with a 91-71 victory at Philadelphia.

The victory avenged a humiliating, 29-point loss to the 76ers on opening night. But the worst news for Philadelphia came when Iverson suffered a partially dislocated right shoulder in a collision with Chris Childs late in the fourth quarter.

Iverson, who was playing with a left hip pointer, will be sidelined two to four weeks, a team spokesman said.

The 76ers have lost their starting backcourt with Eric Snow still recovering from a fractured right ankle he suffered this month.

Iverson underwent an MRI test at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital that revealed no damage to the glenoid labrum or rotator cuff.

He will begin rehabbing the shoulder today, according to team physician Jack McPhilemy.

Iverson, who had 19 points and eight assists, was at odds with Coach Larry Brown again earlier in the day. Iverson was visibly upset before the game because Brown cut his best friend on the team, Vernon Maxwell.

“I’d be surprised if he didn’t react,” Brown said of Iverson. “[Maxwell] was his best friend.”

Iverson didn’t speak to reporters after the game.

Iverson and Brown have had a rocky relationship since the coach came to Philadelphia four years ago. The two appeared to have resolved their differences after a tumultuous summer that included several trade rumors.

But Iverson grew close to Maxwell since his arrival, and he was animated and angry in a conversation with a team official before the game.

Philadelphia, which entered the game with the best record in the NBA, fell to 18-8. The 76ers have lost four in a row at the First Union Center.

Larry Johnson had 12 points and Kurt Thomas added 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Knicks.

Aaron McKie had 10 points for the 76ers, but no other player scored in double figures.

The Knicks won one night after an embarrassing 92-86 loss to the Boston Celtics in which they were booed off the court by the fans at Madison Square Garden.

Houston scored four points against Boston--his worst performance of the season.

Against the 76ers, Houston took control early in the third quarter. He made three three-point shots during an 11-0 run as the Knicks took a 57-43 lead.

“No one could’ve guarded [Houston] in the third quarter,” Brown said.

“It seemed like everything went from bad to worse.”

New York led by as many as 23, and the 76ers didn’t get closer than 17 in the fourth quarter.

“I think we’ve turned the corner,” Knick Coach Jeff Van Gundy said. “Sometimes it’s just a difference of making shots.”

Sacramento 95, Vancouver 93--A running layup by Bobby Jackson with 1:05 to play capped a 8-0 run for the Kings at Vancouver, Canada.

Sacramento improved its Western Conference-leading record to 18-7, the best start for the franchise since the 1951-52 season, when the club was known as the Rochester Royals.

Othella Harrington led the Grizzlies with 24 points and 20 rebounds.

Utah 109, Indiana 101--Karl Malone scored 29 points, John Starks added 19 and John Stockton had a season-high 16 assists to lead the Jazz at Indianapolis.

Atlanta 78, Toronto 72--Roshown McLeod scored 11 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter and Jason Terry had 19 points for the Hawks at Toronto.

Dikembe Mutombo had 20 rebounds and eight blocked shots for the Hawks, who won consecutive games for the first time.

Miami 103, Cleveland 95--Eddie Jones scored a season-high 31 points, including two free throws and a critical three-point basket in the final 39 seconds at Miami.

Charlotte 83, Minnesota 74--David Wesley scored 25 points to lead the Hornets at Minneapolis.

P.J. Brown added 13 points and 12 rebounds for the Hornets, who pulled away in the final minute on a three-point basket by Jamal Mashburn and a steal and layup by Wesley.

San Antonio 105, Golden State 87--Tim Duncan had 18 points and 13 rebounds at San Antonio for his NBA-leading 21st double-double of the season.

Denver 116, Portland 96--Antonio McDyess had 29 points and 11 rebounds and Nick Van Exel added 29 points and 11 assists at Denver to help the Nuggets extend their winning streak to four games.

Seattle 107, Washington 87--Gary Payton scored 34 points at Seattle as the SuperSonics won their fifth in a row to improve to 9-3 since Nate McMillan took over as interim coach.

The Wizards, who have won only five games, lost for the 12th time in 13 games. Also, their starting center, Jahidi White, was sidelined in the third quarter because of a mild left knee sprain.

WOMEN’S ROUNDUP --Associated Press