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Saturday, Dec. 11 7:00pm ET
Iverson returns, can't save 76ers | |||||
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PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Allen Iverson was back Saturday night, and he brought all his baggage with him. Playing with Iverson for the first time in 10 games, the 76ers lost 106-84 to the Charlotte Hornets for their worst loss of the season. Iverson tied his season low with 11 points, got a technical, committed four fouls and didn't play the final 17 minutes. Afterward, he told reporters he wouldn't talk because they didn't give him enough room to get dressed. He came back a while later and said, "Shots weren't going down. Just one of those nights." And that was all, another confusing night in this gifted, enigmatic player's career. The Hornets, who had only nine players available because of illness and injury, led by as many as 32 points and won their fifth straight. Brad Miller led the Hornets with 19 points and 12 rebounds, and David Wesley had a season-high 13 assists as six Charlotte players scored in double figures. Ricky Davis had 16, and Eddie Robinson -- who played Division II basketball last year -- scored 14. "If you're going to call yourself a deep team, this is the time to prove it," said Anthony Mason, who had 15 points, seven rebounds and four assists. The 22-point loss surpassed Philadelphia's season-opening 89-76 loss at San Antonio as its worst of the year. It was the Sixers' worst loss since a 101-78 defeat at Detroit on Dec. 20, 1997. The Sixers played better without Iverson on the floor than with him, just as they have all season. They are 5-8 with him this season and 6-4 without him. "I expected this tonight," Sixers coach Larry Brown said. "Allen didn't have an opportunity to practice with the team. He had the most serious injury of all our guys, and he came back the quickest." Iverson was in good spirits before the game, responding, "Rock and roll," when asked if he was playing. He talked to reporters before the game, which is rare for him. His mood turned grim afterward. Surrounded by reporters, Iverson said, "I'll get y'all, I promise. Just back up and give me some room to get dressed." When they didn't do so to his satisfaction, Iverson said, "That's it. I'm not talking to anybody. I'm not doing it," and stormed away. Iverson returned moments later, picked up some dirty clothes, issued his one quote and left again. He seemed to pick up right where he left off when he was on the injured list. He caused some controversy when he missed Charles Barkley's last game Wednesday night, then was seen at his favorite restaurant afterward. Larry Hughes, the focus of heated trade rumors in recent days, was 3-for-17 with 11 points. Matt Geiger, who recently returned after having arthroscopic knee surgery, scored only two points in 19 minutes. The Sixers received the loudest boos they've heard at home since the desolate first two years of Iverson's career, when they were 53-111. "The team's got to figure out how to keep the identity that we had recently and work Allen and Matt back into it," Brown said. Iverson, wearing tape on the thumb of his shooting hand, missed nine of 16 shots. He was the Sixers' only starter to hit double figures, with reserve Aaron McKie leading Philadelphia with 16 points. The Hornets were missing Bobby Phills, who had a pulled hamstring, and Elden Campbell and Derrick Coleman, both with the flu. Eldridge Recasner is still out following a car accident Oct. 27. "You have to play with more energy with all the guys out," said Eddie Jones, the former Temple star, who had 15 points and added to his league-leading total with three steals. "We make a good living, why not play hard?" Iverson missed six of his first nine shots, got a technical and picked up his third foul before the end of the second quarter. He got the technical for barking at referee Mike Callihan during a timeout because he wanted a foul called. Iverson was called for his fourth foul 14 seconds into the third quarter and came out for the last time with 5:05 left in the third.
Game notes | ALSO SEE NBA Scoreboard Charlotte Clubhouse Philadelphia Clubhouse Iverson returns but can't stop 76ers' worst loss of season
RECAPS LA Lakers 106 Vancouver 94
Charlotte 106
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