Hornets Get Stung by an Unlikely 76er

Aaron McKie shrugged off what might have been the best game of his career. But his teammates and coaches didn’t.

McKie, starting in place of the injured Eric Snow, made four consecutive three-point baskets and scored 13 points in a row midway through the fourth quarter as the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Charlotte Hornets, 105-99, Monday night to win their first-round series, three games to one.

“They were giving me looks throughout the game and I had it in my mind that I was going to take the shots if they were there,” McKie said. “I just got in a groove. I just wanted my team to win.”

Philadelphia plays the winner of the Milwaukee-Indiana series in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Game 1 of the second-round series is scheduled for Saturday afternoon.

McKie had career playoff highs with 25 points and 11 assists. The four three-pointers tied McKie’s career high in any game. Allen Iverson, playing with a chip fracture in his right ankle and an inflamed right elbow, scored 26. Substitute Matt Geiger scored 17 and grabbed 10 rebounds.

“That was a phenomenal shooting display,” Geiger said of McKie’s performance.

After Charlotte took its biggest lead, 85-77 in the first minute of the fourth period, McKie took over. He sank consecutive three-pointers from the wing to cut it to 85-83.

Elden Campbell’s jumper made it 87-83, but McKie tied the game by making another three-pointer and making a free throw to complete a four-point play. After Campbell sank a pair of free throws, McKie gave the 76ers the lead for good, 90-89, with a three-pointer from near the top of the circle.

Iverson set up the shot by holding the ball at the top of the circle, faking a drive and waiting for McKie to come open.

“It’s nice to see Allen, one of the best scorers in the league, sit there and wait for Aaron to come off a screen,” Geiger said.

Then it was Iverson’s turn to score. He had seven straight points on a driving layup, a three-pointer and baseline jumper to give the 76ers a 101-95 lead with 3:09 left.

After the jumper, Iverson cupped his ear and circled the floor, encouraging the raucous sellout crowd of 20,712 to make more noise.

“There are teams with more talent, but nobody has more heart,” Iverson said.

Charlotte did not get closer than four points the rest of the game.

Anthony Mason and Derrick Coleman each scored 21 points to lead Charlotte.

Snow missed his second consecutive game because of a chip fracture in his right ankle that is considered more severe than Iverson’s injury. The 76ers struggled without their floor leader in Game 3, but McKie made sure the offense stayed in rhythm Monday.

McKie shot nine of 15, including four for seven from three-point range. He did not commit a turnover in 36 minutes as the 76ers committed only eight turnovers.

“He was just out of sight tonight,” Charlotte Coach Paul Silas said. “He stepped up to the plate and brought it home.”

But McKie wouldn’t acknowledge this was his best game.

“I don’t judge my play on how many shots I make,” he said. “I like to do all the little things and keep my teammates involved. That helps the other guys and I love to do that every night.”

Reserve point guard Kevin Ollie was one of the guys McKie helped. Ollie, who played two minutes in the first two games, played 16 minutes and had six points and four assists.

McKie, who held Eddie Jones to 18 points in Game 3, limited him to 17 on Monday. He held Jones to only three shots in the first half.

“I’ve always thought Aaron is a very underrated player,” 76er Coach Larry Brown said. “He’s a real pro, so I’m not surprised. I think I’d be a coach for a long, long time if they were all like him.”

Iverson, who injured his ankle in Game 3, was questionable, though he insisted he would play. He aggravated his injured elbow on a driving layup at the end of the second quarter that gave the Sixers a 54-50 halftime lead.

Iverson grimaced and jumped up and down while holding his elbow as he walked off the court. He wore extra padding on it in the second half.

“I play every game like it’s my last,” said Iverson, who made 10 of 23 shots and had seven assists.

And Charlotte had few answers.

“Everyone has to shoulder the blame so we can move on,” Mason said. “We all have to go out and get better next year.”