Hot-Shooting Allen Leads Bucks Over 76ers

On a night when Dikembe Mutombo looked great but Allen Iverson struggled, nothing they did made much of a difference--because of Ray Allen.

Allen ruined an impressive home debut by Mutombo, scoring a career-high 42 points Monday night to lead the Milwaukee Bucks over the Philadelphia 76ers, 98-91, at Philadelphia in a matchup of division leaders.

“I’ve shot the ball well over the past couple weeks, but I don’t think I’ve shot it this well in a long time--if ever,” Allen said.

Making 12 of his final 13 shots, Allen put on a jump-shooting display and scored 21 points in the fourth quarter despite a nose that was broken in a first-quarter collision with Mutombo’s elbow.

Mutombo had 21 points and 16 rebounds in his third game with the 76ers, who trailed by as many as 17 points but tied the score twice in the fourth quarter before Allen finished them off.

The Bucks ended a slide of six consecutive losses against the 76ers.

“It was an incredible fourth quarter by Ray. It looked like he wasn’t even hitting the rim,” Buck Coach George Karl said. “We’ve blown some big leads against Philly, so this was a big win for us. We have a tendency to freeze up sometimes when we have big leads, but we played through it.”

Glenn Robinson added 19 points and Sam Cassell had 17 for the Bucks, who won their fifth in a row and sent the 76ers to their second consecutive loss.

Until Allen started hitting from all angles, the thing that made the game interesting was the way Mutombo helped the 76ers to hang close despite a dreadful shooting night for Iverson.

Iverson finished with 26 points but missed 14 of his first 16 shots. He was able to match Allen shot for shot for part of the fourth quarter, but Allen kept it up longer, and a three-point basket by Allen with 4:47 to play gave the Bucks the lead for good.

Allen scored 17 of the Bucks’ final 23 points and made 17 of 23 shots overall with six three-point baskets, nine rebounds and seven assists.

Orlando 93, Denver 86--Tracy McGrady scored 36 points, 24 in the second half, and pulled down 12 rebounds to lead the Magic at Denver.

Utah 99, Atlanta 82--Karl Malone had 21 points and eight rebounds for the Jazz at Salt Lake City.

Golden State 84, Chicago 78--Antawn Jamison had 24 points and 12 rebounds at Chicago as the Warriors ended an eight-game losing streak.

Portland 95, Houston 89--Rasheed Wallace scored 20 of his 27 points in the second half to lead the Trail Blazers at Houston.

Boston 85, Seattle 82--Antoine Walker had 25 points and 13 rebounds at Boston as the Celtics ended a four-game losing streak.

Charlotte 82, Indiana 72--Jamal Mashburn had 24 points and 11 rebounds at Charlotte, N.C., as the Hornets won their fourth in a row.

Around the League

John Starks said his friend and former New York Knick teammate Patrick Ewing should bring more than just his customary scowl with him tonight when the Seattle SuperSonic center returns to Madison Square Garden for the first time since being traded. “He should also bring Kleenex,” said Starks, now with the Utah Jazz. “It’s going to be tougher on him than it was on me.” Said Ewing, who played 15 seasons with the Knicks before being traded to the SuperSonics in September: “Hopefully it will be a warm homecoming. If not, so be it.” . . . Forward Shawn Marion of the Phoenix Suns was released from the hospital after being treated overnight for a concussion in which he was knocked unconscious going for a rebound. He will sit out the next two games and it’s uncertain when he’ll return, the team said.