76ers Lose Iverson for Regular Season

Allen Iverson will not play again this regular season.

The Philadelphia 76ers announced Tuesday that their star guard will sit out the final eight games because of persistent pain in his right knee, the same injury that kept him out of 13 of the last 19 games.

An MRI exam showed a small lesion under Iverson’s kneecap, but there was no meniscal or ligament damage.

“It was better now to sit him down so it doesn’t linger a lot longer,” team President Billy King said. “It’s probably best to get it where his knee is 100%. It’s not a situation where Allen doesn’t want to play. His knee just keeps swelling up.”

The injury comes with the 76ers in danger of being eliminated from the playoff race. Philadelphia is 10th in the Eastern Conference, 2 1/2 games behind eighth-place Boston.

King said Iverson’s health would be reevaluated if the 76ers make the playoffs.

“Worse-case scenario, surgery would be an option if it does not calm down,” King said. “Rest and rehabilitation hopefully will do it.”

The injury was diagnosed Monday by New York Giant team doctor Russell Warren, who Iverson consulted for a second opinion.

King said the swelling affected Iverson’s movement and quickness.

Messages left for Iverson and his agent, Leon Rose, were not immediately returned.

Iverson has missed 27 games, the most in his eight-year career.