Life Gets Better for 76ers With a Record Victory

Even when he’s not shooting his best, it’s hard to beat Allen Iverson.

Iverson overcame a cold-shooting first half and scored 32 points Wednesday night as the Philadelphia 76ers rallied for a 85-84 overtime victory over the Houston Rockets for their franchise-record 12th consecutive road win.

Iverson made only three of 13 shots in the first half and only 32% overall, but he had nine big points in the third quarter to keep the Rockets from getting too far ahead.

“Yeah, it was an ugly win, but it was a win,” Iverson said. “I’ll take a win any way we can get it.”

George Lynch’s basket gave the 76ers a 72-70 lead to start the overtime and they never trailed, improving their NBA-best road record to 19-4.

“You’re going to have games like that,” 76er guard Aaron McKie said. “When you shoot the ball like that, you’ve still got to find a way to win. I thought we got some key stops in the second half that allowed us to win the game.”

Before the game, center Hakeem Olajuwon, unhappy with his role on the rebuilding Rockets, met with team owner Les Alexander.

“Hakeem and I had a pleasant meeting today, very productive,” Alexander said. “We both want the same thing, and that is to win the playoffs.”

Asked if that meant Olajuwon would finish out the season with the Rockets, Alexander said: “He’ll be here, we’ll see. The rest is confidential. Right now we’re just trying to win the playoffs.”

Olajuwon is in the final year of a contract and earns $16.5 million this season, making him difficult to trade. He has played a lesser role this season and asked the Rockets to consider trading or waiving him.

“I think a lot was accomplished. I’m satisfied,” said Olajuwon, who played 18 minutes against the 76ers. “We’ll just wait and see what happens. The purpose of the meeting was to look at all the possibilities and find a solution.

“It’s very confidential. That’s it. I’d like for you to respect that.”

Golden State 109, New Jersey 87--Antawn Jamison scored 28 points and Marc Jackson had 17 points and 13 rebounds for the Warriors at Oakland.

Charlotte 81, New York 67--Jamal Mashburn had 31 points and 13 rebounds at Charlotte, N.C., as the Hornets ended a five-game losing streak.

Cleveland 94, Chicago 86--Lamond Murray scored 26 points at Cleveland as the Cavaliers handed the Bulls their 10th consecutive loss.

Miami 103, Toronto 83--Anthony Mason scored 21 points to lead a balanced attack at Miami as the Heat ran its home winning streak to nine games.

Phoenix 106, Detroit 73--Cliff Robinson scored 27 points and Shawn Marion had 18 points and 16 rebounds to lead the Suns at Auburn Hills, Mich.

Around the League

Guard Mario Elie of the Phoenix Suns was fined $7,500 by the NBA for verbally abusing a referee and publicly criticizing the officials after Friday night’s loss to the Golden State Warriors. . . . Sun star Jason Kidd received permission to return to his home and family while he awaits arraignment in his domestic violence case. Kidd was arrested last week in suburban Phoenix after his wife, Joumana, told emergency authorities he had slapped her during an argument in their home about feeding their 2-year-old son. . . . Cedric Ceballos of the Miami Heat has been sued in Los Angeles for more than $5 million by a former girlfriend, Sherlynn Cook of Brentwood, who contends he broke a promise to take care of her and their 6-year-old daughter for life. . . . Former NBA player Vernon Maxwell was sentenced in Charlotte, N.C., to 500 hours of community service, two years’ probation and ordered to continue anger counseling after being charged with assaulting a woman last fall.