Iverson Scores Career-High 58

Allen Iverson and Larry Brown still found something to disagree about: Whether or not Kobe Bryant inspired Iverson to have his best scoring night.

Iverson scored a career-high 58 points, the most in an NBA game in almost two years and the fourth-highest total in team history, as the 76ers beat the Houston Rockets, 112-106, in overtime at Philadelphia.

Iverson was 21 of 42 from the field and made all 14 of his free throws for his seventh 50-point game. It came one night after Bryant scored 56 in only three quarters for the Lakers.

“You knew when Kobe got 56, he’d be looking to have a big game,” said Brown. “He was incredible. He took very few bad shots, none in the fourth quarter. He had a phenomenal game.”

Iverson, however, said Bryant’s performance didn’t inspire him at all.

“I’ve won scoring titles, I’ve scored 50 points before and I have won individual awards,” Iverson said. “I haven’t won a championship, and that is the only thing I am concerned about.”

Iverson’s previous career-high was 54, accomplished twice.

“I just want the ball when I’m in a groove like that,” said Iverson, who had 20 points at halftime, 17 in the third, 14 in the fourth and seven in overtime.

Cuttino Mobley led the Rockets with 25 points. Mobley, with Eric Snow all over him, had a chance to win it in regulation, but missed a jumper as time expired.

San Antonio 96, Washington 91--Tim Duncan came back from a one-for-12 start to score 16 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Spurs at Washington.

Michael Jordan struggled for 20 points on five-for-21 shooting.

Milwaukee 106, Indiana 102--Tim Thomas scored 25 points and Sam Cassell and Ray Allen each had 23 as the Bucks held on at Indianapolis.

The Pacers rallied to within two points late in the game despite losing Reggie Miller to an ejection and Jermaine O’Neal to a sprained left knee.

Toronto 92, Detroit 90--Vince Carter scored 24 points, including a game-tying dunk with 2:26 remaining and two go-ahead free throws with 13.4 seconds left to lift the Raptors at Auburn Hills, Mich.

Dallas 116, Atlanta 107--Dirk Nowitzki scored 40 points and the Mavericks tied a franchise record with 18 three-pointers in winning at Atlanta.

Atlanta got a career-best 46 points from Jason Terry.

Sacramento 109, Cleveland 102--Chris Webber had 34 points and 14 rebounds, and Peja Stojakovic had 36 points at Sacramento as the Kings won their ninth in a row after trailing for three quarters.

Charlotte 94, Chicago 86--David Wesley tied his season-high with 26 points to lead the Hornets at Chicago.

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Leon Smith, a troubled 6-foot-10 forward who went from high school to the NBA in 1999, agreed to a 10-day contract with the Atlanta Hawks. ... The San Antonio Spurs put rookie point guard Tony Parker (sprained ankle) on the injured list. ... The Charlotte Hornets activated forward George Lynch (foot) and placed Jerome Moiso (knee) on the injured list. ... The Chicago Bulls activated forward Eddie Robinson, an off-season acquisition who has played only three games because of a toe injury.