SIXERS NEWS

Tonight looking for their 4th win in a row, the Sixers welcomed old friend Allen Iverson and the Nuggets to the Wachovia Center, and what a night it was. Thanks to a lucky bounce and a couple late misses the Sixers escaped with yet another thrilling victory. Offensively, 5 Sixers scored in double figures(Andre Iguodala, Andre Miller, Samuel Dalembert, Willie Green, Rodney Carney) with Miller's 28 leading the way. Miller also added 12 assists to pace the Sixer's offense. Defensively, Sammy D led the way with 12 rebounds and 5 blocks, including 2 key blocks down the stretch, and Reggie Evans added 10 rebounds as the Sixers out rebounded Denver 44-34. Sure 21 turnovers, and poor free throw shooting did serve to mitigate the Sixer's defensive effort a bit, but that ability to pull down the big rebounds down the stretch saved them, so it's worth mentioning. Anyway, in the first quarter of play, the two teams began to wage what would be a tug-of-war , see-saw battle all night, with 13 lead changes, as the Sixers bounced back from an early deficit, to take a 3 point lead, with the score 34-31 heading into the second quarter. In the second quarter of play, the two teams again went back and forth and again it the was the Sixer's bouncing back from an early deficit to win the quarter by 4, and take a 7 point lead into the half, with the score 65-58. In the 3rd quarter Denver finally reversed its fortunes and entered the 4th quarter clinging to a one point lead, with the score 93-92. In the 4th quarter of play, it was one heck of a thriller. First, the Sixers jumped out to a lead, then Denver rallied back to tie it, then the Sixers jumped out to another lead, but again Denver rallied back to tie this time at 110 with just under 3 minutes to play. Then Andre Miller, executed a brilliant shot fake to draw a foul on AI, and drained a jumper, to complete a three point play for a 113-110 Sixer's lead. AI came right back and drilled a three on the next Denver possession to tie it up again at 113 with a minute to play. Then with about 30 seconds to play, the other AI, Andre Iguodala, drove to down the lane, lost his balance, threw up a prayer over his back, and Sammy D who just happened standing by the basket at the right time, grabbed it and dropped it in for a 115-113 Sixers lead. From there, AI missed a three and after a Denver put back attempt fell short, Iggy wrestled away the rebound and dribbled out the clock to close out the 115-113 Sixer's win. So the Sixers improve to 34-34 overall, but remain 3rd in the Atlantic division, and 7th in the Eastern conference, now just .5 games behind the Washington Wizards for 6th, and 1 game behind the Toronto Raptors for 5th.