Iverson Scores 52, 76ers Win by 33

Allen Iverson stared directly into Vince Carter’s eyes, seemingly toying with him. He faked to his left, then to the right, continued to dribble, shuffled back and made a three-point basket over Carter’s outstretched arm.

It was that easy for Iverson on Wednesday night.

The NBA’s most valuable player scored 52 points, including 29 in the first half, as the Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Toronto Raptors, 121-88, to take a three-games-to-two lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals series.

“To me, [the basket] looked like an ocean,” said Iverson, who sprained his left thumb during the game. X-rays of the thumb were negative.

Game 6 of the best-of-seven series is Friday night in Toronto.

Carter scored 16 points and Antonio Davis added 14 for the Raptors.

Carter left early in the fourth quarter when he was hit in the head by 76er center Dikembe Mutombo, but said he has a “major headache.” Mutombo broke his pinkie and is listed as day-to-day.

“I’ll be ready [Friday],” Carter said.

Aaron McKie had 19 and nine assists for Philadelphia and Mutombo added 14 points and nine rebounds.

Philadelphia scored the first 11 points, led 17-4 midway through the first and 33-12 after one quarter.

Toronto never got closer than 17 in the last three quarters. The Raptors shot 53% in the first half, but trailed, 62-40.

“They were ready; we weren’t,” Raptor Coach Lenny Wilkens said. “We were awful.”

Iverson, who scored a career-high 54 points in Game 2 of the series, made 21 of 32 shots from the field, including eight of 14 from beyond the three-point arc.

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HIGH SCORERS IN PLAYOFFS

54--Allen Iverson: Philadelphia vs. Toronto

52--Iverson: Philadelphia vs. Toronto

50--Vince Carter: Toronto vs. Philadelphia

48--Kobe Bryant: Lakers vs. Sacramento

43--Shaquille O’Neal: Lakers vs. Sacramento