Armstrong Goes the Distance to Outlast Iverson and 76ers

After chasing Allen Iverson all over the court for 53 minutes, Darrell Armstrong had enough energy left to do his best Iverson impersonation.

Armstrong scored 13 of his career-high 34 points in the second overtime as the Orlando Magic overcame 47 points by Iverson to beat the Philadelphia 76ers, 123-117, Friday night at Philadelphia.

“I let him get off to a good start, but I played him better in the second half, made him take some tough shots,” said Armstrong, who added 13 assists. “He’s quick, I’m quick, so it was quickness against quickness. The only difference was he knew where he was going.”

Tracy McGrady had all 25 of his points in regulation and Mike Miller added 24 points, including 16 in the third quarter, as Orlando won its third in a row.

Theo Ratliff had 21 points and 13 rebounds and Tyrone Hill added 15 points and 10 rebounds for Philadelphia, which had won 17 of its last 20 games.

“We just couldn’t get it done no matter how hard we tried,” Iverson said. “I’m confused about this one, but we have to move on.”

Armstrong gave Orlando a 115-110 lead on a jumper with 1:50 left in the second overtime as the 76ers missed their first four shots of the period.

After Ratliff cut it to 115-113 with a free throw, Armstrong hit a three-pointer to put the game away.

New York 95, New Jersey 71--Larry Johnson scored 20 points and Allan Houston added 19 to lead the Knicks to an easy victory at East Rutherford, N.J.

Latrell Sprewell added 18 and the Knicks held New Jersey to two fourth-quarter field goals in winning for only the second time in six games.

A frustrated Stephon Marbury had 14 points for the Nets, who lost their seventh in a row. New Jersey played without forward Keith Van Horn, who was sidelined with an intestinal virus.

Johnson had six points in a 17-6 run to start the second half, starting it with a 17-foot jumper and ending it with a layup that gave the Knicks a 66-48 lead. Houston hit a running 10-footer and a three-pointer early to excite the pro-Knick crowd.

Sacramento 105, Vancouver 95--Chris Webber had 41 points and 15 rebounds, and Peja Stojakovic added 17 points as the Kings nearly blew a big lead before hanging on to beat the Grizzlies at Sacramento.

The NBA’s best home team beat the league’s second-worst road team in a game that looked like a blowout for three quarters. Sacramento led by 29 in the third and by 22 entering the fourth, but a lengthy rally by the Grizzlies cut the lead to 10.

The Kings’ starters returned to the game, and Webber scored 10 late points to hold off the Grizzlies, who shot 60% in the fourth quarter but never got closer than nine points.

Miami 91, Atlanta 80--Eddie Jones scored 24 points and Tim Hardaway added 18 as the Heat won for the sixth time in seven games with the victory at Atlanta.

Jones, who pulled down a season-high 12 rebounds, also had a game-high five assists. Hardaway, coming off a 21-point performance Thursday in an overtime loss at Dallas, left the game midway through the third quarter after injuring his right knee. He returned in the fourth wearing an elastic brace.

Jason Terry scored 31 points for the Hawks, who lost their in a row to Miami.

Indiana 103, Denver 94--At Indianapolis, Reggie Miller scored 27 points and Jalen Rose added 26 in giving the Pacers their 10th consecutive victory over the Nuggets over the last six years.

The Nuggets trailed by only three midway through the fourth quarter but a three-pointer and two free throws by Miller,two baskets by Travis Best and another three-pointer by Miller helped the Pacers to an 11-point lead and Denver never recovered.

Boston 102, Detroit 95--Paul Pierce scored 40 points as the Celtics extended their winning streak to a season-best five games at Auburn Hills, Mich.

The Celtics were without Antoine Walker, who is attending his grandmother’s funeral today in Chicago. Detroit was led by Jerry Stackhouse with 40 points.